Whartons Branch (Indian River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whartons Branch |
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| Other name(s) | Tributary to Indian River |
| Country | United States |
| State | Delaware |
| County | Sussex |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Unity Branch divide about 0.1 miles south of Mission, Delaware 40 ft (12 m) 38°32′47″N 075°17′04″W / 38.54639°N 75.28444°W |
| River mouth | Indian River Old Landing, Delaware 0 ft (0 m) 38°34′57″N 075°16′08″W / 38.58250°N 75.26889°W |
| Length | 4.85 mi (7.81 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | various, but generally north |
| River system | Indian River |
| Basin size | 15.60 square miles (40.4 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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| Bridges | Gum Tree Road US 113 Dagsboro Road Iron Branch Road |
Whartons Branch is a small river, about 4.85 miles (7.81 km) long. It flows into a larger river called the Indian River. You can find Whartons Branch in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. It's like a smaller stream that feeds into a bigger one.
Contents
Exploring Whartons Branch
Whartons Branch is an important part of the natural water system in Delaware. It helps carry water from the land into the Indian River, which eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers like Whartons Branch are home to many different plants and animals.
What's in a Name?
Sometimes, rivers have more than one name! The Whartons Branch was also known as "Whartin's Branch" a long time ago. This information comes from a special system that keeps track of place names, called the Geographic Names Information System.
Where Does Whartons Branch Start and End?
Whartons Branch begins in a place called the Unity Branch divide. This is about 0.1 miles (0.16 km) south of a small community named Mission, in Sussex County, Delaware. The river starts at an elevation of about 40 feet (12 meters) above sea level.
From its start, Whartons Branch takes a winding, semi-circular path. It generally flows north. Finally, it meets the Indian River at a spot called Old Landing, Delaware. At this point, the river is at sea level.
The Whartons Branch Watershed
A watershed is like a giant bowl that collects all the rain and snow that falls in an area. All this water then drains into a specific river or stream. The Whartons Branch watershed covers an area of about 15.60 square miles (40.40 square kilometers).
- This area gets about 45.0 inches (114.3 cm) of rain each year.
- About 5.4% of the land in the watershed is covered by forests. These forests are important because they help keep the water clean and provide homes for wildlife.
- The river also has smaller streams, called tributaries, that flow into it. One of these is named Iron Branch.
