West Branch Pleasant River (Piscataquis River)
Encyclopedia
The West Branch Pleasant River is a 36.1 miles (58.1 km) tributary
of the Piscataquis River
in Piscataquis County
, Maine
. From a location north of Fourth West Branch Pond (45.609°N 69.269 °W) in Shawtown (Township A, Range 12, WELS), the river runs about 18 miles (29 km) counterclockwise around the White Cap Mountain
massif
, then about 18 miles (29 km) southeast to its confluence
with the East Branch
of the Pleasant River in Brownville.
The Appalachian Trail
crosses the West Branch (45.4790°N 69.28865 °W) at The Hermitage Preserve in Bowdoin College Grant East (T.7 R.10 NWP). The Hermitage contains a roughly 35 acres (14.2 ha) grove — one of the few stands of old-growth Eastern White Pine
remaining in New England. Just upstream from The Hermitage is Gulf Hagas (45.486°N 69.326 °W), a 2.5 miles (4 km) water-formed canyon
. The river falls 500 feet (152.4 m) in the canyon, including multiple waterfall
s. Gulf Hagas and The Hermitage are among the 14 National Natural Landmark
s in Maine, designated in 1968 and 1977 respectively.
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 Piscataquis River
Piscataquis River
The Piscataquis River is a major tributary of the Penobscot River, found in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. It starts from the confluence of its East Branch and West Branch in Blanchard. The river flows in a mostly eastern direction until it meets the Penobscot at Howland...
in Piscataquis County
Piscataquis County, Maine
Piscataquis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 17,535, making it Maine's least-populous county. Its county seat is Dover-Foxcroft....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. From a location north of Fourth West Branch Pond (45.609°N 69.269 °W) in Shawtown (Township A, Range 12, WELS), the river runs about 18 miles (29 km) counterclockwise around the White Cap Mountain
White Cap Mountain (Piscataquis County, Maine)
White Cap Mountain is a mountain located in Piscataquis County, Maine.White Cap Mtn. is flanked to the east by Hay Mountain, to the south by Big Spruce Mountain and to the southeast by Little Spruce Mountain.White Cap Mtn...
massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
, then about 18 miles (29 km) southeast to its confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with the East Branch
East Branch Pleasant River (Piscataquis River)
The East Branch Pleasant River is a tributary of the Piscataquis River in Piscataquis County, Maine. From its source in Shawtown , the river runs about generally southeast to Upper Ebeemee Lake, then about south through Ebeemee Lake to its confluence with the West Branch to form the Pleasant...
of the Pleasant River in Brownville.
The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
crosses the West Branch (45.4790°N 69.28865 °W) at The Hermitage Preserve in Bowdoin College Grant East (T.7 R.10 NWP). The Hermitage contains a roughly 35 acres (14.2 ha) grove — one of the few stands of old-growth Eastern White Pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
remaining in New England. Just upstream from The Hermitage is Gulf Hagas (45.486°N 69.326 °W), a 2.5 miles (4 km) water-formed canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
. The river falls 500 feet (152.4 m) in the canyon, including multiple waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s. Gulf Hagas and The Hermitage are among the 14 National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
s in Maine, designated in 1968 and 1977 respectively.