The Chipola River is a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Apalachicola River

Apalachicola River

The Apalachicola River is a river, approximately 112 mi long in the State of Florida. This river's large watershed, known as the ACF River Basin for short, drains an area of approximately into the Gulf of Mexico. The distance to its farthest headstream in northeast Georgia is approximately 500...

 in Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. The 92.5 miles (148.9 km) river crosses Jackson

Jackson County, Florida

Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2000 census was 46,755. As of 2005, the population was estimated to be 48,985 . Its county seat is Marianna, Florida.- History :...

, Calhoun

Calhoun County, Florida

Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,017. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 13,410 . Its county seat is Blountstown, Florida.- History :...

 and Gulf

Gulf County, Florida

Gulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,975 . Its county seat is Port St. Joe.- History :...

 counties. The river flows into the Dead Lakes State Recreation Area

Dead Lakes State Recreation Area

Dead Lakes State Recreation Area is a Florida State Park located one mile north of Wewahitchka off S.R. 71 and southwest of Tallahassee. Activities include hiking, fishing, boating, camping and nature viewing. Among the wildlife of the park are foxes, cotton rats, raccoons, opossums, white-tailed...

 just before reaching the Apalachicola. The Dead Lakes were formed when the Apalachicola deposited sand bars

Bar (landform)

A shoal, sandbar , or gravelbar is a somewhat linear landform within or extending into a body of water, typically composed of sand, silt or small pebbles. A spit or sandspit is a type of shoal...

blocking the mouth of the Chipola. The Chipola now flows for several miles south from the Dead Lakes parallel to the Apalachicola before finally joining it.