Elk River (West Virginia)

Elk River
A map of Elk River and its watershed
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountiesPocahontas, Randolph, Webster, Braxton, Clay, Kanawha
Physical characteristics
SourceOld Field Fork
  locationElk Mountain, Pocahontas County
  coordinates38°18′24″N 80°06′18″W / 38.30667°N 80.10500°W / 38.30667; -80.10500
  elevation3,557 ft (1,084 m)
2nd sourceBig Spring Fork
  locationPocahontas County
  coordinates38°22′32″N 80°00′34″W / 38.37556°N 80.00944°W / 38.37556; -80.00944
  elevation3,655 ft (1,114 m)
Source confluence 
  locationSlatyfork
  coordinates38°25′08″N 80°07′48″W / 38.41889°N 80.13000°W / 38.41889; -80.13000
  elevation2,667 ft (813 m)
MouthKanawha River
  location
Charleston
  coordinates
38°21′18″N 81°38′42″W / 38.35500°N 81.64500°W / 38.35500; -81.64500
  elevation
574 ft (175 m)
Length172 mi (277 km)
Discharge 
  locationQueen Shoals
  average2,650 cu ft/s (75 m3/s)
  minimum271 cu ft/s (7.7 m3/s)(1976)
  maximum14,000 cu ft/s (400 m3/s)(1972)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftBirch River
  rightHolly River

The Elk River is a tributary of the Kanawha River, 172 miles (277 km) long, in central West Virginia in the United States. Via the Kanawha and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.