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Summit to the Sea:
information for k-12 education what is an estuary? | habitat | climate | geology |
hydrology
Altamaha River and its Watershed The Ocmulgee River and the Oconee River come together and form the Altamaha River in southeast Georgia. The Altamaha River flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Darien, at about the mid-point of Georgia's coastline. A watershed is an area of land drained by a river system. When rain falls, some soaks into the soil. The rest of the rainwater remains above ground and begins to flow downhill (for more information, see Hydrology - Surface Water). In a watershed, rain runs downhill until it reaches a stream. Small streams join other streams. The streams continue to flow downhill into a river. Eventually the river flows into the sea. Each large river has many smaller rivers and streams flowing into it. These streams and rivers that flow into a larger river are called tributaries of the river.
The river and its swamps and marshes near the coast are among the most unspoiled habitats in the state. However, increasing population in the Coastal Plain and pressure for development are threatening their undisturbed nature. click on images for larger versions
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