Week 3 - Rivers

Satellite image of Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Source: NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). Photo by Mark Dornblaser, USGS.

Map of Cape Fear Basin. Source: NOAA

This week my family and I traveled to see the Cape Fear river in the state of North Carolina.  I pointed out to my wife and son how much the river meanders.  I explained that this was do to both the type of river(black-water river) and the installation of multiple locks which allow larger boats to navigate the water.  A black-water river is named due to channels that are slow moving and the wetlands or tree-covered swampy areas it flows through.  I also mentioned that the Cape Fear river carries clay and granite which makes sense due to its rocky substrate.  I noted that the river is perennial and begins following the convergence of the Deep and Haw rivers flowing through much of the state before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.  I found the water coloration of the river particularly interesting as it resembled dark coffee.  This is due to the surrounding plant life and the decaying process which essentially increases the acidity and turns the water a very dark shade.

Ford, M., Stober, C., & Jernigan, E. (2012). Upper Cape Fear River Basin Conservation and Restoration Analysis and Strategy. Retrieved July 20, 2018, from http://www.ptrc.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=1760

South East Region. (2018). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from http://www.regions.noaa.gov/secar/index.php/cape-fear/

Translations for BLACKWATER RIVER. Retrieved July 20, 2018, from https://www.definitions.net/definition/BLACKWATER RIVER