The Delaware River

The Delaware River is the longest, free-flowing river in the eastern United States. For the most part, the condition of the Delaware River is a product of the cumulative flows from its numerous tributaries. Meanwhile, the Delaware’s tributaries take their character from the underlying topography, geology, microclimates, and land uses of their watersheds.

All along the Delaware between Trenton, New Jersey and the Delaware Bay are different marinas and associated facilities. For instance, on the Pennsylvania side, there are remnants of the industrial age, including the old U.S. Steel Plant in Fairless Hills, as well as docks that were used to offload coal and other raw materials. Head north of Trenton and look towards the New Jersey side where you will see a lot of scenic landscape.

In addition to its picturesque terrain, the Delaware River is one of nine “Great Waters” recognized by the America’s Great Waters Coalition (an alliance of national, regional, state, and local organizations working to protect, preserve, and restore our country’s Great Waters). The Delaware is also a very diverse river. In its northern, nature-oriented stretch, the river runs freely and swiftly supplying clean drinking water to millions of people (including many New York City residents) as it moves past woodlands, farmlands, and villages. In its southern portion as it moves toward Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Delaware becomes a mighty, industrial, commerce-bound river running parallel to some of the most densely populated urban areas in America.