{"id":13194,"date":"2023-10-20T07:40:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T06:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13194"},"modified":"2023-10-20T07:40:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T06:40:17","slug":"where-does-the-ohio-river-meet-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/where-does-the-ohio-river-meet-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Does The Ohio River Meet The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ohio River<\/h2>\n

The Ohio River is a 981-mile long river that passes through six states – Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois – before its confluence with the Mississippi River at what is popularly called the ‘Confluence’. It is the largest tributary of the Mississippi with an average discharge rate of 208,000 cu ft\/s. It is one of the most important rivers in the midwestern United States for both transportation and commerce as well as for recreation.<\/p>\n

The Ohio River originates from the north in Pittsburgh, PA, and flows south through Wheeling, WV, then through metropolitan suburbs such as Marietta, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Louisville, KY, and Evansville, IN, before finally joining the Mississippi River at Cairo, IL. Along its path, it intersects several major rivers, such as the Monongahela River and the Allegheny River, both of which are considered major tributaries of the Ohio River. The Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers actually join to form the Ohio River, commonly referred to as the ‘Forks of the Ohio’. <\/p>\n

The Ohio River is known as an excellent fishing spot, with abundant stocks of muskellunge, northern pike, striped bass, catfish, carp, crappie, and smallmouth bass. It is also a great place for boating, canoeing, and kayaking, providing scenic views and good swimming spots. The Ohio River’s confluence with the Mississippi is so powerful it is known as the ‘Cradle of American Waterways’, and many of the nation’s rivers still flow together on their way to the Northwest Territory.<\/p>\n

As the Ohio River flows south to its confluence with the Mississippi River, it gathers a large amount of sediment and silt from the hundreds of rivers and creeks that line its banks. This added sediment and silt can dramatically effect the navigability of the rivers. To make sure that boaters and anglers can still enjoy the river, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has established a number of locks and dams along the river that can be used to control the flow of water and silt. These locks and dams are also important for maintaining the navigability of the Ohio River so that it can continue to be a major transportation route for goods and people.<\/p>\n

Significance<\/h2>\n