The Manhan River is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed April 1, 2011 river in western
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
. It is a tributary of the
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges into Long Isl ...
.
The river begins near the boundary between the towns of
Huntington and
Westhampton, Massachusetts, and flows southeast to White Reservoir and then Tighe Carmody Reservoir in
Southampton
Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...
. The river continues southeast, then turns northeasterly and flows through the middle of
Easthampton to its confluence with the Connecticut River at a westward curve called
The Oxbow. The river provides excellent views of nearby
Mount Tom.
Europeans first settled the area in 1664 and later established saw mills on the river. In 1847 large mills began with the Williston-Knight Button Company; a number of other factories sprang up nearby in the next few years. Small lead mines also were established near the river. Of particular note is the Manhan River mine near Loudville, noted for its
pyromorphite and
wulfenite
Wulfenite is a lead molybdate mineral with the formula Pb Mo O4. It often occurs as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color, sometimes brown, although the color can be highly variable. In its yellow form it is some ...
. A former railroad has been converted to the Manhan Rail Trail, which now provides a scenic pathway along the river.
See also
*
List of rivers of Massachusetts
References
Environmental Protection AgencyEasthampton GuideManhan Rail TrailLoudville Pyromorphite
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Rivers of Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Tributaries of the Connecticut River
Rivers of Massachusetts