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James River (Virginia)

James River
JamesRiverWG.JPG
James River at the crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Name origin: King James I
Country United States
State Virginia
Tributaries
 - left Chickahominy River
 - right Appomattox River
Source Confluence of Cowpasture River and Jackson River
 - location Allegheny Mountains, Virginia
 - coordinates 37°47′4″N 79°46′33″W / 37.78444°N 79.77583°W / 37.78444; -79.77583 
Mouth Hampton Roads
 - location Chesapeake Bay, Virginia
 - coordinates 36°56′30″N 76°26′37″W / 36.94167°N 76.44361°W / 36.94167; -76.44361Coordinates: 36°56′30″N 76°26′37″W / 36.94167°N 76.44361°W / 36.94167; -76.44361 
Length 348 mi (560 km)
Basin 10,432 sq mi (27,019 km2)
Discharge
 - average 6,835 cu ft/s (194 m3/s)
 - max 313,000 cu ft/s (8,863 m3/s)
 - min 10 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
Jamesrivermap.png
A map of the James River watershed

The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is 348 miles (560 km) long, extending to 444 miles (715 km) if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising 10,432 square miles (27,020 km2). The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million people (2000). It is the 12th longest river in the United States that remains entirely within a single state.

The James River forms in the Appalachian Mountains, near Iron Gate on the border between Alleghany and Botetourt counties, from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson rivers, and flows into the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton Roads. Tidal waters extend west to Richmond, the capital of Virginia, at the river's fall line (the head of navigation). Larger tributaries draining to the tidal portion include the Appomattox River, Chickahominy River, Warwick River, Pagan River, and the Nansemond River.

At its mouth near Newport News Point, the Elizabeth River and the Nansemond River join the James River to form the harbor area known as Hampton Roads. Between the tip of the Virginia Peninsula near Old Point Comfort and the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk in South Hampton Roads, a channel leads from Hampton Roads into the southern portion of the Chesapeake Bay and out to the Atlantic Ocean a few miles further east. Many boats pass through this river to import and export Virginia products.


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