Oostanaula River

Oostanaula River
The Oostanaula River in Rome, Georgia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates34°32′36″N 84°54′11″W / 34.5433°N 84.9031°W / 34.5433; -84.9031
 • elevation~ 730 feet (220 m)[1]
Mouth 
 • location
Rome, Georgia
 • coordinates
34°15′15″N 85°10′36″W / 34.2541°N 85.1766°W / 34.2541; -85.1766
 • elevation
564 ft (172 m)
Length93 miles (150 km)
Basin size772 sq mi (2,000 km2)

The Oostanaula River (pronounced "oo-stuh-NA-luh") is a principal tributary of the Coosa River, about 49 miles (79 km) long,[2] formed by the confluence of the Conasauga and Coosawattee in northwestern Georgia in the United States. Via the Coosa and Alabama rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mobile River, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico.

Etymology

Folklore explanations for its name state that Oostanaula is derived from a Cherokee language term meaning "rock that bars the way". Other similar explanations include "shoally river",[3] and "a rock ledge across a stream".

Course

The Oostanaula River is formed in northern Gordon County, Georgia, by the confluence of the Conasauga and Coosawattee rivers, and flows generally south-southwestwardly through Gordon and Floyd counties, past the towns of Resaca and Calhoun. It joins the Etowah River in Downtown Rome to form the Coosa River.

Tributaries

Variant names

According to the GNIS, the river has also been known as:

  • Estanola River
  • Estanole River
  • Oostenauleh River
  • Oostennallah River
  • Oostinawley River
  • Oustanale River
  • Oustanalee River
  • Ustanali River

On this 1796 map the river is labelled "Eastanallee R."

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oostanaula River.
  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. Dyer Gap quadrangle, GA. 1:24,000. 7.5 Minute Series. Washington D.C.: USGS, 1988.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 27, 2011
  3. ^ "Floyd County". Calhoun Times. September 1, 2004. p. 73. Retrieved 24 April 2015.


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