Editing Alabama River

{{short description|River in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date = March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox river
| name              = Alabama River 
| image             = Alabama River.jpg 
| image_size        = 300px 
| image_caption     = The Alabama River at [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] in 2004
| mapframe          = yes
| mapframe-zoom     = 7
| source1 = [[Tallapoosa River|Tallapoosa]] and [[Coosa River|Coosa]] Rivers
| source1_location = [[Wetumpka, Alabama]]
| source1_coordinates = {{Coord|32.4861|-86.2786|format=dms|type:river_region:US-AL|display=i}}
| source1_elevation  = {{Convert|42|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth = [[Mobile River]] 
| mouth_location = [[Mount Vernon, Alabama]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|31.1383|-87.9401|format=dms|region:US-AL|display=it}}
| mouth_elevation = {{Convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[United States]]
| length            = {{convert|318|mi}} 
| discharge1_avg    =  
| basin_size        =  {{Convert|59000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| progression       = [[Mobile River|Mobile]] → [[Gulf of Mexico]]
| map               = MobileAlabamaCoosa3.png 
| map_caption       = The Mobile, Alabama, and Coosa rivers are essentially a single river the name of which changes at the confluences of major tributaries.
| extra             = 
}}

The '''Alabama River''', in the U.S. state of [[Alabama]], is formed by the [[Tallapoosa River|Tallapoosa]] and [[Coosa River|Coosa]] rivers, which unite about {{convert|6|mi|0}} north of [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], near the town of [[Wetumpka, Alabama|Wetumpka]].<ref name = eb>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/11995/Alabama-River|title = Alabama River &#124; river, United States &#124; Britannica| date=March 23, 2024 }}</ref> 

Over a course of approximately {{Convert|319|mi|km}}, the river meanders west towards [[Selma, Alabama|Selma]], then southwest until, about {{convert|45|mi}} from [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], it unites with the [[Tombigbee River|Tombigbee]], forming the [[Mobile River|Mobile]] and [[Tensaw River|Tensaw]] rivers, which discharge into [[Mobile Bay]].<ref name = eb/>

==Description==
The run of the Alabama is highly meandering.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.caria.org/navigation.html |title=CARIA Current Issues - Navigation on the Alabama river |access-date=May 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725141115/http://www.caria.org/navigation.html |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its width varies from {{convert|50|to|200|yd}}, and its depth from {{convert|3|to|40|ft|0}}. Its length as measured by the [[United States Geological Survey]] is {{convert|318.5|mi}},<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=March 29, 2012 }}, accessed April 27, 2011</ref> and by [[steamboat]] measurement, {{convert|420|mi}}.<ref name="Berney">{{cite book |last=Berney |first=Saffold |title=Handbook Of Alabama: A Complete Index To The State |publisher=Nabu Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-1792-5964-2}}</ref>

The river crosses the richest agricultural and timber districts of the state.  Railways connect it with the mineral regions of north-central Alabama.

After the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, the principal tributary of the Alabama is the [[Cahaba River]], which is about {{convert|194|mi}} long<ref name=NHD/> and joins the Alabama River about {{convert|10|mi}} below Selma. The Alabama River's main tributary, the Coosa River, crosses the mineral region of Alabama and is navigable for light-draft boats from [[Rome, Georgia]], to about {{convert|117|mi}} above [[Wetumpka, Alabama|Wetumpka]] (about {{convert|102|mi}} below Rome and {{convert|26|mi}} below Greensport), and from Wetumpka to its junction with the Tallapoosa. The channel of the river has been considerably improved by the federal government.

The navigation of the Tallapoosa River – which has its source in [[Paulding County, Georgia]], and is about {{convert|265|mi}} long<ref name=NHD/> – is prevented by [[shoal]]s and a {{convert|60|ft|adj=on}} fall at [[Tallassee, Alabama|Tallassee]], a few miles north of its junction with the Coosa. The Alabama is navigable throughout the year.

The river played an important role in the growth of the economy in the region during the 19th century as a source of transportation of goods, which included slaves. The river is still used for transportation of farming produce; however, it is not as important as it once was due to the construction of roads and railways.

Documented by Europeans first in 1701,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Willson|first=Marcius|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eEvIL9V3RAgC&q=Alabama+River+europeans+found+in+1712&pg=RA2-PA522|title=American History: Comprising Historical Sketches of the Indian Tribes: A Description of American Antiquities, with an Inquiry Into Their Origin and the Origin of the Indian Tribes; History of the United States, with Appendices Showing Its Connection with European History; History of the Present British Provinces; History of Mexico; and History of Texas, Brought Down to the Time of Its Admission Into the American Union|date=1847|publisher=W.H. Moore & Company|language=en}}</ref> the Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers were central to the homeland of the [[Creek people|Creek Indians]] before their [[Indian Removal|removal]] by United States forces to the [[Indian Territory]] in the 1830s.

==Lock and dams==
The Alabama River has three lock and dams between Montgomery and the Mobile River.  The Robert F. Henry Lock & Dam is located at river mile 236.2, the Millers Ferry Lock & Dam is located at river mile 133.0, and the Claiborne Lock & Dam is located at river mile 72.5.<ref>Courtesy [https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District]
</ref> These dams create R.E. "Bob" Woodruff Lake, William Dannely Reservoir, and Claiborne Lake respectively. 

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:USACE Claiborne Lock and Dam.jpg|Claiborne Lock and Dam on the Alabama River, approximately {{convert|5|mi|0}} upriver from Claiborne, Monroe County
Image:USACE Robert F Henry Lock and Dam.jpg|Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River, approximately {{convert|15|mi}} east of Selma
Image:Cesam249.jpg|[[Millers Ferry Lock and Dam]] on the Alabama River in Wilcox County, approximately {{convert|9.5|mi}} northwest of Camden
Image:Alabama River RM192 Selma.JPG|Alabama River in [[Dallas County, Alabama|Dallas County]] looking upstream towards [[Selma, Alabama|Selma]].
Image:Alabama River at Benton Park.JPG|The Alabama River in [[Lowndes County, Alabama|Lowndes County]] as seen from Benton Park in [[Benton, Alabama|Benton]], [[Alabama]].
Image:Edmund Pettus Bridge over Alabama River.jpg|The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma overlooking the Alabama River.
File:Selma December 2018 11 (Alabama River).jpg|The Alabama River in Selma
File:Riverfront Park December 2018 07 (Alabama River).jpg|Alabama River at Riverfront Park in Montgomery
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of Alabama rivers]]
*[[Tallapoosa River]]
*[[Coosa River]]
*[[Mobile River]]
* [[South Atlantic-Gulf Water Resource Region]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Collier's Poster|Alabama (river)|Alabama River}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050930120237/http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/A/A02218-alabama-river.html Allrefer.com]
*{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Alabama (river)|display=Alabama, a river of the state of Alabama |short=x}}
*{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Alabama (river)|display=Alabama. A river formed by the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers |short=x}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Alabama River| ]]
[[Category:Alabama placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Rivers of Autauga County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Monroe County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Montgomery County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Wilcox County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Dallas County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Mobile County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Elmore County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Rivers of Alabama]]