Information AboutCahaba River |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CAHABA RIVER | |
| rivers of alabama | |
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The Cahaba River is the longest free-flowing river in Alabama and is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the United States . The town of ''Cahawba'' was founded at the mouth of the Cahaba River in 1819 as the first provisional capital of Alabama and was a center of riverboat commerce on the Alabama River until sometime after the Civil War.1, Old Cahawba The waters of the Cahaba are home to more than 131 species of freshwater fishes (18 of which have been found in no other river system), 40 species of mussels, and 35 species of snails. Sixty-nine of these animal species are endangered. Among the countless plant species that thrive in and around the Cahaba is the beautiful Cahaba Lily . As a result; a portion of the Cahaba River, near West Blocton, AL, has been designated as the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge . Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge . The Cahaba River is a major tributary of the Alabama River and part of the larger Mobile River Basin. It is 191 miles (307 km) long and drains an area of 1,870 square miles (4846 km&2). The Cahaba flows through heavily populated areas in the Birmingham metropolitan area. It serves as the source of drinking water in the upper course for over 1 million people and is also a popular Canoeing destination. Pressure to develop the land around the Cahaba presents a growing threat to the health of the river. MAJOR CITIES A number of Alabama cities lie on the banks of or in close proximity to the Cahaba River. They include:
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