Shetucket River

Geobox River
name = Shetucket River
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =


image_size =
image_caption =
country = USA
country1 =
state = Connecticut
state1 =
region_type = Counties
region = Windham
region1 = New London
district =
district1 =
city =
city1 =
length_imperial = 25
watershed_imperial =
discharge_location = Willimantic, CT
discharge_average_imperial = 718
discharge_average_note = Average, 1929-2005
discharge_max_imperial = 1243
discharge_max_note = Annual mean, 1938
discharge_min_imperial = 337
discharge_min_note = Annual mean, 1965
discharge_location_note = cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-ct-05-1/ |title=Water Resources Data Connecticut Water Year 2005 |author=United States Geological Survey |year=2005 |accessdate=2007-06-09 ]
discharge1_location =
discharge1_average =
source_name = Confluence of Willimantic River and Natchaug River
source_location = Willimantic
source_district =
source_region = Windham County
source_state = Connecticut
source_country = USA
source_lat_d = 41
source_lat_m = 42
source_lat_s = 46
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 72
source_long_m = 11
source_long_s = 31
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note = cite web | last = Geographic Names Information System | first = United States Geological Survey | date = September 12, 1979 | url =Gnis3|210826 | title =Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: Shetucket River | accessdate =2007-06-09]
source_elevation_imperial =
source_length_imperial =
mouth_name = Confluence with Quinebaug River to form Thames River
mouth_location = Norwich
mouth_district =
mouth_region = New London County
mouth_state = Connecticut
mouth_country = USA
mouth_lat_d = 41
mouth_lat_m = 31
mouth_lat_s = 20
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 72
mouth_long_m = 04
mouth_long_s = 40
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
mouth_elevation_imperial =
tributary_left =
tributary_left1 =
tributary_right =
tributary_right1 =
free_name =
free_value =


map_size =
map_caption = Shetucket River and environs

The Shetucket River is a tributary of the Thames River, approximately 25 mi (40 km) long, in eastern Connecticut in the United States.

It is formed at Willimantic by the junction of the Willimantic and Natchaug rivers. It flows southeast and south. Approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) northeast of Norwich it receives the Quinebaug River and broadens into a wide estuary which stretches southeast for approximately 5 mi (8 km) and joins the Thames estuary on the south side of Norwich.

The river flows through an especially unspoiled rural section of southern New England, despite the historical prevalence of industry in the surrounding region. Parts of the rivers have been designated by the federal government as the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. The National Park Service describes the river valley as the "last green valley" in the Boston-to-Washington megalopolis. In nighttime satellite photos, the valley appears distinctively dark amidst the lights of the surrounding urban and suburban regions.

A popular paddling route begins just east of Willimantic at Rec Park south of Route 14. The waters can be expected to be a combination of flatwater and quickwater for most of the route. Additional put-ins can be found at the Route 203 bridge, the Route 97 bridge, and a take-out at the Route 12 bridge. There are a few dams that should be avoided. The first at coord|41|39.898|N|72|7.317|W, the second at coord|41|35.836|N|72|2.978|W, and the last at coord|41|34.35|N|72|2.728|W using NAD83.

ee also

*List of Connecticut rivers

References

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/qush/ National Park Service: Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor]
* [http://www.thelastgreenvalley.org/ LastGreenValley.org]
* [http://www.ctxguide.com/ctxguide_147.htm Connecticut Explorer's Guide] Online Shetucket River maps.