Susquehanna River, River in northeastern United States.
The Susquehanna River flows for 464 miles (747 km) through New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland before reaching Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace. The river winds through wooded valleys and farm plains, forming several wide sections and narrower passages between rocky banks.
The river served as a transport route for anthracite coal from mining regions to downstream markets during the 18th century. With the arrival of railroads, river navigation declined and today no commercial vessels operate here.
The name comes from the Susquehannock, an indigenous people who lived along the banks and whose language still lives on in the river's name. Today anglers and boaters use the river for leisure activities, especially in the calmer sections between wooded slopes.
Multiple access points along the banks allow for fishing and boating, with seasonal regulations protecting various fish species. Public boat launches and parks provide water access, though some sections pass through private land.
Despite its length, the river now carries no commercial boat traffic and remains the longest such unused waterway in the continental United States. In some places, the water is shallow enough to wade across on foot during summer.
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