Chapter 2
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into the Delaware Bay, which then empties
into the AtlanticOcean.
There are twomain rivers that flow into
the Delaware River. The Lehigh River flows
into the Delaware at Easton. The Schuylkill
(school kil) River drains into the Delaware
at Philadelphia.
Our longest and second major river
system is the Susquehanna River. Its source
also begins in New York State. This river
flows south through the entire central part
of Pennsylvania. It empties into the
Chesapeake Bay, which then empties into
the AtlanticOcean.
There are twomain rivers that flow into
the Susquehanna. To the north, the West
Branch of the Susquehanna flows into
the Susquehanna where the cities of
Northumberland and Sunbury are located.
Farther south, the Juniata River flows into
the Susquehanna River. Harrisburg, our
state capital, is located about 20 miles
farther south on the Susquehanna.
InwesternPennsylvania, our largest river
system is the Ohio River. It flows westward
through other states to the Mississippi
River. This river flows south through the
entire United States. It finally empties into
theGulf ofMexico south of NewOrleans.
The Ohio River system is a bit different
from the other two river systems. The
Allegheny River flows from the north. The
Monongahela (monon gahe la) flows from
the south. The two riversmeet at Pittsburgh
to form a third river— theOhio.
Our Lakes, Ponds,
Springs, and
Wetlands
W
ith 5,000 different waterforms,
Pennsylvaniahasplentyof fresh
water. The source for this fresh
water is our state’s average of 42 inches of
precipitation per year. Much of this
precipitation becomes
run-off water
.
Mt. Davis
3,213 ft.
979m.
Allegheny
Susquehanna
Susquehanna
Delaware
Lehigh
Chesapeake
Bay
Delaware
Bay
Harrisburg
Ohio
Allegheny
Allegheny
Youghiogheny
Monongahela
West Branch
Susquehanna
Delaware
Juniata
Schuylkill
Johnstown
StateCollege
Williamsport
York
Allentown
Erie
Altoona
Bethlehem
Lancaster
Reading
Scranton
Wilkes-Barre
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Lake
Erie
TiogaLake
Hammond
Lake
TiogaDam
HammondDam
Lake
Wallenpaupack
Allegheny
Reservoir
Pymantuning
Reservoir
Youghiogheny
Dam
RaystownDam
Lake
Wallenpaupack
Dam
Kinzua
Dam
Major river systems of
Pennsylvania.
