The Ohio is navigable, and, despite seasonal fluctuations that occasionally reach flood proportions, its fairly uniform flow has supported important commerce since settlement first began. The falls were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1966. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The first known European explorer to travel the river was French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in 1669. Corrections? The Ohio River has 9 ports and harbors. In 1749, Great Britain established the Ohio Company to settle and trade in the area. The Ohio River is 981 miles long. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The number in parentheses after the port's location corresponds to the numbered icons on the map. The dams raise the water level and have turned the river largely into a series of reservoirs, eliminating shallow stretches and allowing for commercial navigation. By the treaty of 1763 ending the French and Indian Wars, the English finally gained undisputed control of the territory along its banks. From there, it forms the border between West Virginia and Ohio, upstream of Wheeling, West Virginia. The Ohio River is 981 miles long. David G wrote a review Nov 2020. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Brent Spence Bridge is carrying tens of thousands more vehicles a day than it was designed to handle. René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is said to have been the first European to see the Ohio, in 1669, and he descended it until obstructed by a waterfall (presumably the Falls at Louisville). Come 2013, they found that they weren’t ready to comply. Its name means "good river" in Seneca, and it lent its name to the state of Ohio to the north. [Note: The distance between cities in Ohio (US) distance chart below is straight line distance (may be called as flying or air distance) between the two locations in Ohio (US) calculated based on their latitudes and longitudes. It begins in Pittsburgh at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, and ends at Cairo, Illinois, where it joins the Mississippi. It flows southwestward to the city of Cuyahoga Falls (where its falls were eliminated by a series of dams) on the northern edge of Akron ; there it drops into a large, deep valley and turns sharply northward. 20 dams along the river. The Little Miami River (Shawnee: Cakimiyamithiipi) is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows 111 miles (179 km) through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States.The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati.It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren counties. This report presents a procedure for estimating the time of travel of water in the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Cincinnati, Ohio, under various river stage conditions. Some people will use the shorthand of the Ohio Valley to refer specifically to the upper part of the Ohio River Valley rather than the entire course of the River. On Thursday, July 17, 2018 my wife and I, along with our friend Gary Coleman, ventured to Huntington, West Virginia, and spent the afternoon aboard the steamboat American Queen. A number of years ago, ORSANCO [the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission], an eight state agency, said that there would be no more discharges of mercury above a certain level into the Ohio River. Bacteria are present in the Ohio River throughout the year. At the confluence, the Ohio is considerably bigger than the Mississippi (Ohio at Cairo: 281,500 cu ft/s (7,960 m3/s); Mississippi at Thebes: 208,200 cu ft/s (5,897 m3/s)) and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system. Two of the transportation connections between Ohio and Kentucky in the Cincinnati metropolitan area were closed on the same day, leaving one side of the Ohio River cut off from the other. It has a total fall of only 429 feet (130 metres), the one major hazard to navigation being the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville, where locks control a descent of about 24 feet (7 metres) within a distance of 2.5 miles (4 km). The Ohio’s tributaries include the Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha, Big Sandy, Licking, Kentucky, and Green rivers from the south and the Muskingum, Miami, Wabash, and Scioto rivers from the north. The Iroquois Indians had begun to settle between the Ohio River and Great Lakes by 1650, although it is estimated that only a few hundred lived in present-day Ohio during any one period. When (by an ordinance of 1787) the area was opened to settlement, most of the settlers entered the region down the headwaters of the Ohio. Griggs (built 1908) and O’Shaughnessy (1925) dams, both near Columbus, impound narrow reservoirs for water supply.Tributaries include the Olentangy River and Big Walnut Creek. The advance of the Illinoian glacier 300,000 years ago continued the modification of the Ohio landscape, eroding bedrock and older sediments and depositing sediment as it melted. Report: Ohio River most polluted body of water in U.S. for 7th year in row Greater Cincinnati Water Works have special carbon filtration system in place to remove toxic chemicals In some places in western Ohio the buried valley of the Teays River is more than 400 feet deep but no hint of it is visible on the flat surface of the landscape. The Ohio River, 981 miles long, is the largest tributary of the Mississippi. All I-75/71 NB traffic from Kentucky is being detoured at I-275. From its origin to Cincinnati, the average depth is approximately 5 meters (15 feet). The Ohio River is a historical American icon. The following three factors come up in conversations as to why. The highest level of the river recorded during this time was 24.4 meters, which was recorded at Gallipoplis, and a total of ten per cent of the city was completely submerged in water. Its drainage base runs through 15 states and provides drinking water for over 3 million people. McAlpine Locks and Dam (Only to Shippingport Island, not all the way across river) New Albany and Louisville (Falls of the Ohio) 1830 14th Street Bridge (Ohio River) Louisville and Indiana Railroad: Clarksville and Louisville 1868, 1919 The Ohio River is a 981 miles long river that is found within the region of Laurentia in the US. In 1781, Thomas Jefferson described it as the most beautiful river on Earth, and the Ohio went on to become a major route for pioneers heading west. The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in non-contiguous sites consisting of islands along 631 kilometers (392 miles) of the Ohio River, primarily in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The first dam and lock was built on the Ohio River in 1885, with an entire system of 46 locks and dams built until 1929. It flows about 112 miles (180 km) south past Zanesville and McConnelsville to the Ohio River at Marietta. The Ohio River is seen to be spanning a length of almost 1,000 miles and flows through the United States of America. The Ohio River is a major river artery of the east-central United States. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River in the United States. 981 miles long. The word “Ohio” originated from the Seneca language of the Seneca people. Numerous excursion boats also use our locks as they cruise the rivers entertaining and educating area residents and tourists. In Summertime, there are long lines of pleasure boats waiting at locks. Some are wary of going out on the Ohio River. The Ohio’s drainage basin includes parts of 15 states: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina. This information is primarily for use by civil defense officials and by others concerned with problems involving travel time of river water. All reviews ohio river great walk walk along the river park area beautiful area newport on the levee view of the river water features spend an afternoon freedom center bridge path downtown stroll play carousel piano sights cincy landscaping. The Ohio’s tributaries include the Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha, Big Sandy, Licking, Kentucky, and Green rivers from the south and the Muskingum, Miami, Wabash, and Scioto rivers from the north. The Ohio River forms its stream in the westward direction and flows from the area near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where it is formed by the conflue… The length of the Ohio River is approximately 1,579 kilometers (981 miles). Ends in Cairo, IL; emptying into the Mississippi river. The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national, bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky in the United States, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Ohio River rises at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River. It is the 10th longest river in the United States. The Ohio River is a 981 miles long river that is found within the region of Laurentia in the US. The Ohio River Basin. Lodgepole Creek in Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado is 278 miles long or over twice the length of Raccoon Creek. The course forms the northern borders of West Virginia and Kentucky; and the southern borders of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, until it joins the Mississippi River near the city of Cairo, Illinois. Formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh, it flows northwest out of Pennsylvania, then in a general southwesterly direction to join the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois ( see photograph ), after a course of 981 miles (1,579 km). Ohio is 220 miles long and 220 miles wide at its most distant points. While kayaks and pontoons feel like viable options, there are other ways. Bacteria conditions in the Ohio River can change rapidly, particularly as a result of rain which flushes bacteria into the Ohio River from such sources as overland runoff and combined sewers. Its watershed drains land in 15 states. For decades, much of the Ohio River was used as an industrial sewer. In this Oct. 7, 2014, file photo, traffic on the Brent Spence Bridge passes in front of the Cincinnati skyline while crossing the Ohio River to and from Covington, Ky. The Ohio River Scenic Byway follows the Ohio River, so you can enjoy majestic river views for the entire drive. All I-75/71 NB traffic from Kentucky is being detoured at I-275. The Licking River, which joins the … It received its English name from the Iroquois word, "O-Y-O," meaning "the great river". The Licking River is a tributary of the Muskingum River, about 40 mi (65 km) long, in central Ohio in the United States.Via the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River Native Americans and early European settlers used it heavily, especially to access the West. The Ohio River starts in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, borders Ohio, and runs for about 981 miles. Some describe the Mississippi River as being the third longest river system in the world, if the length of Missouri and Ohio Rivers are added to the Mississippi's main stem. It flows about 112 miles (180 km) south past Zanesville and McConnelsville to the Ohio River at Marietta. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. From the west, however, many of its numerous Great Plains tributaries are too seasonal and choked with sandbars to be used for shipping. The state is named after the Ohio River, which is a Seneca word for "good river," "large creek," or "great river." Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The river formed on a piecemeal basis beginning between 2.5 and 3 million years ago. The Ohio River contributes more water to the Mississippi than does any other tributary and drains an area of 203,900 square miles (528,100 square km). We were told over 30,000 recreational boats locked through the Pittsburgh The Ohio River Basin covers parts of 14 states and is home to millions of peoples and many industries. In the depths and shallows of the Ohio River, well over 100 different species of fish exist. Begins in Pittsburgh, PA; formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. While not developed for hydropower in Ohio, the river, kept at a navigable depth of 9 feet (3 metres), carries cargoes of coal, oil, steel, and manufactured articles. It … These records have never been beaten. INDOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are studying and gathering input from the public on the feasibility and potential impact of a modern Ohio River crossing between Evansville, IN, and Henderson, KY, that meets today’s interstate design standards and improves highway safety. This Year's Great Ohio River Swim Salutes The Late Bill Keating, Jr. The river’s name comes from the Seneca (Iroquoian) Ohiːyo’, a proper name derived from ohiːyoːh, meaning “good river”. Answer. The Ohio is a beautiful river with amazing scenery. By the treaty of 1763 ending the French and Indian Wars, the English finally gained undisputed control of the territory along its banks. Ohio River Basin. Updates? Exploration of the territory and trade with the Indians in the region near the Forks by British colonials from Over 30,000 recreational boats locked through the Pittsburgh District’s locks last year. The largest tributary of the Mississippi River, the Ohio River winds through six states and is 981 miles long. It is one of the tributaries of the Mississippi River which is popular for being the river’s largest tributary by volume. Ohio and Indiana disagreed. David G wrote a review Nov 2020. Kentucky is south of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. “The plume, which is about 23 miles long, entered the Ohio River very early this morning and began dissipating,” Mura said. Built in 1995, this 418 foot long, 6 deck riverboat is the largest steamboat ever built. I have explored it by canoe, cabin cruiser, deck boat, steamboat and towboat. The dams have greatly changed the flow of the river, creating a series of very slow moving pools rather than a free flowing river. Cities along the river include: Pittsburgh, East Liverpool, Wheeling, Parkersburg, Huntington, Ashland, Cincinnati, Louisville, Owensboro, Evansville, Henderson, Paducah, Cairo. From there, it flows northwest through Allegheny and Beaver counties, before making an abrupt turn to the south-southwest at the West Virginia–Ohio–Pennsylvania triple-state line. It is even even more impressively noted that the Ohio River drains an area of almost 190,000 square miles in the country. Fast Facts. Locks on the Ohio River have two chambers: One is for commercial traffic and measures 1,200 feet long by 110 feet wide; and the other, designed for recreational boats, is 600 feet long by 110 feet wide. How to traverse the river. Following destructive floods at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1889 and Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1937, the federal government built a series of flood-control dams. In May, 1782, Pennsylvania farmer, Jacob Yoder, became the first person to successfully navigate a flatboat from Brownsville to New Orleans, demonstrating how the rivers could be used to reach distant markets and to settle the West. Via Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, it is part of the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean. The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at modern-day Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. And they gave industries 10 years to comply with that. The Mohican River is a principal tributary of the Walhonding River, about 40 miles (64 km) long, in north-central Ohio in the United States.Via the Walhonding, Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 999 square miles (2,590 km 2). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. I have traveled the entire 981 miles of the Ohio River several times. The Ohio River It begins at the confluence of the Allegheny river near Pittsburgh, and flows 981 miles to join the Mississippi at Cairo, Ill. Omissions? Ohio. Cairo of course, is where we Loopers are introduced to the Ohio. Interesting facts about Mount Rainier National Park, Interesting facts about the Blue Ridge Mountains. The rivers play a crucial role in the state; they provide water for domestic and industrial use, means of … The river then follows a roughly southwest and then west-northwest course until Cincinnati, before bending to a west-southwest course for most of its length. The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at modern-day Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Rising water on the Ohio River and repeated failures at Locks and Dam 52 and 53 kept river traffic shut down this week, queuing vessel traffic along a 50-mile stretch, according to the Corps of Engineers and industry advocates. TheOhio Riveris a 981-mile-long river in the American Midwest that flows from westernPennsylvania to the Mississippi River in southern Illinois. The Ohio River is a naturally shallow river that was artificially deepened by a series of dams. Chicago River and member info Paducah to Mobile distance How late can I leave Detroit thru Chicago. 64 65 66. From a geological standpoint, the Ohio River is young. From Pittsburgh, it flows northwestward to Chester, West Virginia , where it turns southwestward and courses for more than 256 miles across the western flank of West Virginia to Kenova, West Virginia , where it is joined by the Big Sandy River . Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Average depth is ~24 feet. Pennsylvania and Virginia – both of which claimed the territory – led to conflict with the French. Certain bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illnesses if ingested during recreational activities. The Ohio River It begins at the confluence of the Allegheny river near Pittsburgh, and flows 981 miles to join the Mississippi at Cairo, Ill. It ends approximately 900 miles downstream at Cairo, Illinois, where it flows into the Mississippi River. Deepest point is 132 feet (Louisville, KY area) Widest point is 1 mile wide at the Smithland Dam. It marks several state boundaries: the Ohio–West Virginia, Ohio–Kentucky, Indiana–Kentucky, and Illinois–Kentucky. It received its English name from … He was in Louisville this week participating in the Labor Day Hike, Bike, and Paddle. There are 53 Locks on the Ohio RIver. He is traveling down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, PA to Cairo, IL – a trip of almost 1,000 miles. The distance between Pittsburgh (which is on the Ohio) and Key West is 1332 miles. The following three factors come up in conversations as to why. Muskingum River, river formed by the confluence of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers at Coshocton, east-central Ohio, U.S. The river’s valley is narrow, with an average width of less than 0.5 mile (0.8 km) between Pittsburgh and Wheeling (West Virginia), a little more than 1 mile (1.6 km) from Cincinnati (Ohio) to Louisville (Kentucky) and somewhat greater below Louisville. Ohio River, major river artery of the east-central United States. The Ohio River flows through or along the border of 6 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The Ohio River is 981 miles long and borders and/or runs through six states. The Grand River is a tributary of Lake Erie, 102.7 miles (165.3 km) long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. In Summertime, there are long lines of pleasure boats waiting at locks. How to traverse the river. https://www.britannica.com/place/Ohio-River, Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Ohio River, Ohio River - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Ohio River - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). This information is primarily for use by civil defense officials and by others concerned with problems involving travel time of river water. In the early 1950s the Army Corps of Engineers began replacing the old structures with 20 modern locks and dams with higher lifts and much longer lock chambers. And that long legacy of pollution is still being felt all along the river's near-thousand-mile course. A tributary of the Mississippi, the Ohio is even larger than the Mississippi at the point it drains into the latter. Cuyahoga River, river in northeastern Ohio, U.S., rising 15 miles (24 km) south of Lake Erie and 35 miles (56 km) east of Cleveland. The Ohio River is said to be one of the largest of U.S. rivers in terms of its volume, and is said to be surpassing many others, worth mentioning alongside the mighty Mississippi River. This report presents a procedure for estimating the time of travel of water in the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Cincinnati, Ohio, under various river stage conditions. The natural depth of the river varied from about 0.9 to 6 meters (3 to 20 feet). It begins at the confluence at the of the Allegheny river at the Point in Pittsburgh, PA, and flows 981 miles to join the Mississippi at Cairo, Ill. Abe Lincoln was 19 years old the first time he traveled down Longitude: 82° 44.5'W Latitude: 40° 21.7'N : Borders: Ohio is … Life along the Ohio Riverbanks tends to be rough, since the housing tends to be in the more industrial regions, but residents remain armed in the force of the water. When (by an ordinance of 1787) the area was opened to settlement, most of the settlers entered the region down the headwaters of the Ohio. Consider that the Toussaint River in northern Ohio is only six miles long, and the Roe River in Montana is a whopping 201 feet long. The Ohio River is a major river artery of the east-central United States. While kayaks and pontoons feel like viable options, there are other ways. Ocala, Florida 100 contributions 26 … I have explored it by canoe, cabin cruiser, deck boat, steamboat and towboat. * indicates the port has a World Port Source review. Ohio (US) Distance Chart (Distance Table): For your quick reference, below is a Distance Chart or Distance Table of distances between some of the major cities in Ohio (US). The Missouri River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, is about 100 miles longer. The Ohio River flows through or along the border of 6 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The length of the Ohio River is approximately 1,579 kilometers (981 miles). Ocala, Florida 100 contributions 26 … The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cairo of course, is where we Loopers are introduced to the Ohio. Upstream lies Cincinnati, Wheeling, Pittsburgh and, ultimately, the Seneca reservation in New York, where the Allegheny River is named Ohi:yó. And so the Ohio River became their highway, and flatboats their means of transportation. 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