Penobscot River
| Penobscot River Pαnawάhpskewtəkʷ | |
|---|---|
The Penobscot River watershed | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Maine |
| Mouth | |
• location | Penobscot Bay |
• coordinates | 44°26′N 68°50′W / 44.44°N 68.83°W |
• elevation | sea level |
| Length | 109 mi (175 km) |
| Basin size | 8,610 sq mi (22,300 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 12,080 cu ft/s (342 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | East Branch Penobscot River, Mattawamkeag River |
| • right | West Branch Penobscot River, Piscataquis River |
The Penobscot River (Abenaki: Pαnawάhpskewtəkʷ) is a 109-mile-long (175 km) river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to 264 miles (425 km), making it the second-longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains 8,610 square miles (22,300 km2).
It arises from four branches in several lakes in north-central Maine, which flow generally east. After the uniting of the West Branch with the East Branch at Medway (45°36′14″N 68°31′52″W / 45.604°N 68.531°W), the Penobscot flows 109 miles (175 km) south, past the city of Bangor, where it becomes navigable. Also at Bangor is the tributary Kenduskeag Stream. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Penobscot Bay. It is home to the Penobscot people that live on Indian Island, and considered to be The People's lifeblood.