Savannah River

The Savannah River is a major waterway in the southeastern United States that forms much of the natural border between the states of Georgia and South Carolina. It originates at the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia and flows approximately 301 miles (484 km) southeastward before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Savannah. Along its course, the river passes through diverse landscapes, including rolling piedmont hills, fertile coastal plain farmlands, and expansive tidal marshes. It has played a vital role in the region’s history and economy for centuries, serving as a key transportation route for indigenous peoples, European settlers, and the cotton trade during the antebellum period. Today, the Port of Savannah is one of the busiest container ports on the U.S. East Coast. The river also supports important ecosystems, recreational activities such as fishing and boating, and several hydroelectric dams. Despite its beauty, parts of the Savannah River are influenced by the nearby Savannah River Site, a former nuclear production facility, which has shaped environmental management efforts in the watershed.