Georgia Rivers

Georgia’s rivers, which are used to define many official county and state boundaries, traverse the state for nearly twenty thousand miles. These important sources of water have played a crucial role in the state's development over time, from influencing the site of Georgia's earliest cities to inspiring ongoing interstate disputes over water rights and usage.

Georgia’s natural environment features fourteen separate river basins, defined as the hills, valleys, and plains surrounding a river. These complex areas host many diverse plant and animal populations. Human habitations also surround rivers, which promote economic growth and recreational opportunity. Conversely, Georgia rivers experience a significant amount of flooding that can disrupt local populations and alter natural surroundings.

An alluvial stream, the Savannah is one of Georgia’s longest rivers, flowing for 313 miles in a southeasterly direction from Lake Hartwell to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, the Savannah River marks the state line between Georgia and South Carolina and provides much of the drinking water for the cities of Augusta and Savannah. In addition to supporting nearby human populations, the Savannah River hosts many unique plants and animals, including more than 100 species of fish alone.

Along its banks, the Savannah River nourishes pristine forested areas that provide ideal habitats for waterfowl, migratory birds, and other wildlife.

Managed by the Georgia Ports Authority, the Garden City Ocean Terminal at Savannah Harbor is the fourth busiest container port in the United States.​

Built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1985, the Richard B. Russell Dam creates an expansive lake on the Savannah River that encompasses more than 26,000 acres.​

The sun sets over the waterfront on River Street in Savannah. In the distance is Hutchinson Island, directly connected to the downtown by the Savannah Belles Ferry system.​

The Chattahoochee River begins its descent from the Blue Ridge Mountains near Brasstown Bald in Georgia’s northernmost physiographic region and flows south toward Alabama where it crosses the Fall Line that separates the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions.

The headwater, or starting point, of the Chattahoochee River is pictured here, a small stream flowing through a wooded area in the north Georgia mountains.​

The Buford Dam, which impounds Lake Lanier on the Chattahoochee River in northern Georgia, was built in 1956, primarily for flood control. Lake Lanier attracts 7.5 million people to the area annually for tourism and recreation.

The barred owl (Strix varia) is a relatively large owl that is commonly found in forests adjoining a water source, such as the Chattahoochee River. The barred owl is often identified by its dark eyes, round head, and distinctive call, “Who cooks for you?”​​​

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers 48 miles of waterway for activities like kayaking and rafting.​​