The Connecticut River, the longest river in New England, runs for over 400 miles from a series of linked small lakes in northern New Hampshire near the Canadian border to its mouth in Long Island Sound. Although its seasonal flow varies widely, more than two-thirds of the fresh water entering the Sound comes from the Connecticut River, and through its seven tributaries it drains large areas of four of the six New England states. Europeans attributed discovery of the river to Adrian Block in the early 17th century, and the Dutch explorer called it Delersche Riviere, Freshwater River. The name Connecticut comes from the Native American word quinnehtukqut, meaning land of the long tidal river. From colonial days until the beginning of the 20th century, the river served as a highway for transporting goods and carrying travelers, especially between New York, Hartford, and other river towns. Today commercial traffic is very light, and the river has taken on a second life as a place for recreational water activities.

Photo: Conrad Ward