Congaree River
Encyclopedia
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina
in the United States
; It flows for only 47 miles (78 km). The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River
just north of Lake Marion
to form the Santee River
.
It is formed in Columbia
by the confluence of the Saluda
and Broad
rivers near the Piedmont
fall line
. It serves as part of the boundary between Richland
, Calhoun
, and Lexington counties. The only cities near the river are Columbia on the east, and Cayce
and West Columbia
on the west.
Despite the vast bottomland swamp
below Columbia, the Congaree is navigable along much of its length at high water by barge
traffic, which comes upriver from the Port of Charleston
(approximately 100 miles (167 km) through the Santee-Cooper Lakes to within 5 miles (8 km) of the fall line. The Congaree National Park
, one of the main recreational attractions of the river, is located about halfway down the river's course. The 22,200 acre (90 km²) park contains some of the last remaining old growth bottomland hardwood
forest in North America
. Recreational opportunities include hiking
, biking, bird watching, botanical
interests, and canoeing
.
The river's name comes from the Congaree
Indians who used to live along it.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; It flows for only 47 miles (78 km). The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River
Wateree River
The Wateree River, about 75 mi long, is a tributary of the Santee River in central South Carolina in the United States, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
just north of Lake Marion
Lake Marion (South Carolina)
Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina, centrally located and with territory within five counties. The lake is referred to as South Carolina's inland sea. It has a shoreline and covers nearly 110,000 acres of rolling farmlands, former marshes, and river valley landscape...
to form the Santee River
Santee River
The Santee River is a river in South Carolina in the United States, long. The Santee and its tributaries provide the principal drainage and navigation for the central coastal plain of South Carolina, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean approximately from its farthest headwater on the Catawba River...
.
It is formed in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
by the confluence of the Saluda
Saluda River
The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States...
and Broad
Broad River (Carolinas)
The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles long, in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
rivers near the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
. It serves as part of the boundary between Richland
Richland County, South Carolina
Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 U.S. census recorded its population to be 320,677. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded that its population had reached 384,504. It is the second most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville...
, Calhoun
Calhoun County, South Carolina
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 15,185; a 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 15,100. It is named for John C. Calhoun, the former U.S. Vice-President, Senator, Representative and cabinet member from South...
, and Lexington counties. The only cities near the river are Columbia on the east, and Cayce
Cayce, South Carolina
Cayce is a city in Lexington and Richland counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, along the Congaree River. The population was 12,150 at the 2000 census...
and West Columbia
West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia is a city in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 13,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area....
on the west.
Despite the vast bottomland swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
below Columbia, the Congaree is navigable along much of its length at high water by barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
traffic, which comes upriver from the Port of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
(approximately 100 miles (167 km) through the Santee-Cooper Lakes to within 5 miles (8 km) of the fall line. The Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Located in South Carolina, the 26,546-acre national park received that designation in 2003 as the culmination of a grassroots campaign which had started in 1969...
, one of the main recreational attractions of the river, is located about halfway down the river's course. The 22,200 acre (90 km²) park contains some of the last remaining old growth bottomland hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
forest in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Recreational opportunities include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, biking, bird watching, botanical
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
interests, and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
.
The river's name comes from the Congaree
Congaree (tribe)
The Congaree were a group of Native Americans who lived in what is now central South Carolina of the United States, along the Congaree River. Although early European observers thought they were likely of the Siouan language family given their geographic location and characteristics of neighboring...
Indians who used to live along it.
Crossings
Below is a list of crossing from the river's creation in Columbia downstream to its confluence with the Wateree to form the Santee River:- Columbia/West Columbia/Cayce
- Jarvis Klapman Blvd
- Gervais Street Bridge (U.S. 1/U.S. 378)
- Blossom Street Bridge (U.S. 21/U.S. 321)
- Granby/Olympia Mills railroad trestles
- Interstate 77/Southeastern Beltway
- EastoverEastover, South CarolinaEastover is a town in Richland County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 830 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Eastover is located at ....
- railroad trestle near confluence
- McCords Ferry Road (U.S. 601), connecting Eastover and Saint Matthews