West Branch Susquehanna River

West Branch Susquehanna River
The eastern side of Williamsport seen from the southeast on Bald Eagle Mountain. In the foreground is the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Beyond Williamsport can be seen the higher part of the dissected Allegheny Plateau.
Map of the West Branch Susquehanna River watershed
Location
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Region	Cambria County, Indiana County, Clearfield County, Clinton County, Centre County, Lycoming County, Northumberland County, Union County, Snyder County
Physical characteristics
Source	Allegheny Mountains
• location	Near Carrolltown, Cambria County
• coordinates	40°35′55″N 78°43′23″W / 40.59871°N 78.72311°W / 40.59871; -78.72311
Mouth	Susquehanna River
• location	Northumberland, Northumberland County
• coordinates	40°52′55″N 76°47′51″W / 40.88194°N 76.79750°W / 40.88194; -76.79750[1]
• elevation	423 ft (129 m)
Length	243 mi (391 km), West-east
Basin size	6,847 sq mi (17,730 km2)[2]
Discharge
• location	Lewisburg[2]
• average	11,229 cu ft/s (318.0 m3/s)[2]
• maximum	287,000 cu ft/s (8,100 m3/s)[3]
Basin features
River system	Susquehanna River
Tributaries
• left	Sinnemahoning Creek, Pine Creek, Larrys Creek, Lycoming Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Muncy Creek
• right	Chest Creek, Anderson Creek, Clearfield Creek, Bald Eagle Creek, White Deer Hole Creek

The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the Northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch,^[4] with the shorter West Branch being its principal tributary.

The West Branch, which is 243 miles (391 km) long,^[5] is entirely within the state of Pennsylvania, draining a large mountainous area within the Allegheny Plateau in the western part of the state. Along most of its course it meanders past mountain ridges and through water gaps, forming a large zigzag arc through central Pennsylvania around the north end of the Allegheny Mountains. In colonial times, the river valley provided an important route to the Ohio River valley. In the 19th century, its lower valley became a significant industrial heartland of Pennsylvania. In the 20th century, the upper reaches of the West Branch turned a yellow/orange color due to sulfurous drainage from nearby and abandoned deep bituminous coal mines.^{[citation needed]}