This major waterway, although in places still undeveloped, remains an important artery for water traffic. The river flows 164 miles from its source at Moosehead Lake to the Atlantic Ocean, 12 miles south of here at Popham. Kennebec is a Wabanaki word for "long, quiet water." From the first settlement in 1607 to the present, the river has seen logging, fishing, shipbuilding, commercial travel, ice cutting, milling, and power generation. Over 5,000 vessels have been built on the shores of this river in more than 200 shipyards. Today's traffic consists of pleasure craft, fishing boats, tugs, tour boats, Coast Guard vessels, and Bath-built Naval vessels.