Thames River (Connecticut)

The Thames River (/θeɪmz/)[1] is a short river and tidal estuary in the state of Connecticut. It flows south for 15 miles (24 km)[2] through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic River and Shetucket River at Norwich, Connecticut, to New London and Groton, Connecticut, which flank its mouth at Long Island Sound. The Thames River watershed includes a number of smaller basins and the 80-mile-long Quinebaug River, which rises in southern Massachusetts and joins the Shetucket River about four miles northeast of Norwich.[3][4]

Not to be confused with River Thames.
Thames River
Sailboat at the Thames River, seen from the waterfront in New London, Connecticut
Location
CountryUnited States
StateConnecticut
CountyNew London
Physical characteristics
SourceThe Yantic and Shetucket rivers merging
 • locationNorwich
 • coordinates41°31′18″N 72°04′43″W
MouthLong Island Sound
 • location
New London and Groton
 • coordinates
41°18′45″N 72°04′49″W
Length15 miles (24 km)
Width 
 • minimum377 feet (115 m)
 • maximum4,348 feet (1,325 m)

History
Sleighing on the frozen river, winter of 1903–1904

The river has provided important harbors since the mid-17th century. It was originally known as the Pequot River after the Pequot Indians who dominated the area. Other early names for the river have included Frisius, Great, Great River of Pequot, Little Fresh, Mohegan, New London, and Pequod. The town was officially named New London in 1658 and the estuary river was renamed Thames after the River Thames in London, England.[5]

The United States Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, a U.S. Navy submarine base, and the Electric Boat submarine shipyard are located on the river at New London and Groton. USS Nautilus was launched into the river on January 21, 1954 from Electric Boat, becoming the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.[6]

Two historic forts overlook the mouth of the river at New London harbor, now Connecticut State Parks: Fort Griswold on the eastern Groton Heights, and Fort Trumbull on the New London side.

Events

The Harvard-Yale Regatta is held annually in New London. New London's Sailfest is an annual event which includes OpSail, a gathering of large sailing vessels including the Coast Guard training ship USCGC Eagle.

Crossings
Town Name Carrying
Montville/

Preston

 Mohegan-Pequot Bridge Route 2A
New London/

Groton

 Gold Star Memorial Bridge I-95 and

US 1

Thames River Bridge Amtrak
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See also

References
  1. "How New London, Connecticut, Got Its Name". The New London Gazette. The Oldham Publishing Service. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 1, 2011
  3. Eastern Connecticut Conservation District. accessed June 24, 2112
  4. "GNIS Detail - Thames River". geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  5. "How New London, Connecticut, Got Its Name". The New London Gazette. The Oldham Publishing Service. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  6. "USS Nautilus: A record-breaking sub". BBC News. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
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