Waccamaw River
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The Waccamaw River is a river, approximately 140 miles (225 km) long, in southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina in the United States. It drains an area of approximately 1110 square miles (2886 km²) in the coastal plain along the eastern border between the two states into the Atlantic Ocean. Along its upper course it is a slow-moving blackwater river surrounded by vast wetlands, passable only by watercraft such as canoe. Along its lower course it is surrounded by sandy banks and old plantation homes, providing an important navigation channel with a unique geography, flowing roughly parallel to the ocean
[edit] Description
The river rises in southern Bladen County in southeastern North Carolina. It flows south through Lake Waccamaw in the Green Swamp southeast of Whiteville, Columbus County, then through Brunswick County then generally southwest, parallel to the coastline and separated from the ocean by approximately 15 miles (24 km). It enters South Carolina and flows southwest across Horry County, past Conway. Near Burgess it is joined from the northwest by the Great Pee Dee River which rises in north central North Carolina. It continues southwest, separated from the ocean by only five miles (8 km) in a long tidal estuary. The long narrow point of land along the ocean formed by the lower river is called Waccamaw Neck. At Georgetown it receives the Black River (South Carolina) from the north, then turns sharply to the southeast and enters the ocean at Winyah Bay, approximately five miles (8 km) north along the coast from the mouth of the Santee River.
The lower river is navigable as far as Conway and has formed an important commercial route in the region since the 18th century. Its lower course in South Carolina forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, which joins the river from the northeast at Bucksport, South Carolina.
The river's extensive wetlands offer habitat for a diverse group species, including the Carolina pygmy sunfish and the American black bear. A portion of the habitat has been acquired by The Nature Conservancy.
Land along the Waccamaw, the lower Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee has been acquired and more will be, in formation of the new Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.
