Georgia Rivers

Rivers have always played a vital role in the history and development of Georgia, and continue today to be major sources of drinking water, navigation, and recreation. Georgia rivers come in different types, from the whitewater rivers of the northeast Georgia mountains, to the rivers serving Georgia's burgeoning piedmont region, to the wider, slower-moving, larger rivers of Georgia's coastal plain. A look at any historical map of Georgia will show the importance of the rivers to the growth of Georgia, as cities developed along the fall line (the area where the coastal plain meets the piedmont --- for more information on this, click here). Across the state --- from Augusta to Milledgeville to Macon to Columbus --- cities developed based on navigable Georgia rivers. Rivers also help form many of Georgia's boundaries with neighboring states, especially South Carolina and Alabama.

The purpose of this page is to give a brief introduction to all of the major Georgia rivers, including a map showing their courses outlined in blue. A brief textual description of the rivers' origins, courses, tributary status, and ultimate destinations is also included. For many of the rivers, we have photographs taken by Institue of Government faculty members Ed Jackson and Jim Kundell. For those wanting more information, a list of informational links on each river concludes each page. Just click on the name of a river in the table below to be taken to a map of and information about that river. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to Charles Pou.

General Information Links on Georgia Rivers:

Georgia River Network

How Rivers Work from Brown's Guide to Georgia

Georgia River Posters from Brown's Guide to Georgia

Photo Gallery of Blue Ridge Mountain Streams, Rivers, and Waterfalls

Photo Gallery of Coastal Rivers

Photo Gallery of Flooding Rivers

Photo Gallery of Piedmont Rivers

North Georgia Rivers

Georgia Rivers LMER (Land Margin Ecosystem Research)

Georgia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)

River Basins of Georgia

Photo Gallery of 2007 Drought in Georgia