[[Image:MobileAlabamaCoosa3.png|thumb||right|300px|The Mobile, Alabama, and Coosa rivers are essentially a single river whose name changes at the confluences of major tributaries.]]
[[Image:Alabama_River.jpg|thumb|300px|The Alabama River at [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] in 2004]]
The '''Alabama River''', in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Alabama]], is formed by the [[Tallapoosa River|Tallapoosa]] and [[Coosa River|Coosa]] rivers, which unite about six miles above [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]].

The river flows west to [[Selma, Alabama|Selma]], then southwest until, about 45 miles (72 km) from [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], it unites with the [[Tombigbee River|Tombigbee]], forming the [[Mobile River|Mobile]] and [[Tensaw River|Tensaw]] rivers, which discharge into [[Mobile Bay]].

The course of the Alabama is very meandering. Its width varies from 200 to 300 yards (200 to 300 m), and its depth from 3 to 7 feet (1 to 2 m). Its length as measured by the [[United States Geological Survey]] is 312 miles (502 km), and by steamboat measurement, 420 miles (676 km).

The river crosses the richest agricultural and timber districts of the state, and [[railway]]s connect it with the [[mineral]] regions of north central Alabama.


After the Coosa and Tallapoosa river, the principal tributary of the Alabama is the [[Cahaba River]], which is about 200 miles (300 km) long and joins the Alabama River about 10 miles (16 km) below Selma. The Alabama River's main tributary, the Coosa River, crosses the mineral region of Alabama and is navigable for light-draft boats from [[Rome, Georgia]] to about 117 miles (188 km) above [[Wetumpka River|Wetumpka]] (about 102 miles below Rome and 26 miles (42 km) below Greensport), and from Wetumpka to its junction with the Tallapoosa. The channel of the river has been considerably improved by the federal government.

The navigation of the Tallapoosa river - which has its source in [[Paulding County, Georgia]], and is about 250 miles (400 km) long - is prevented by [[shoal]]s and a 60 foot (18 m) fall at [[Tallassee, Alabama|Tallassee]], a few miles north of its junction with the Coosa. The Alabama is navigable throughout the year.

The river played an important role in the growth of the [[economy]] in the region during the [[19th century]] as a source of [[transportation]] of goods. The river is still used for transportation of farming produce however is not as important as it was due to the formation of [[road]]s and [[railway]]s.

The Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers were central to the homeland of the [[Creek people|Creek Indians]] before their [[Indian Removal|removal]] in the early 19th century.

==External links==

*[http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/A/A02218-alabama-river.html Allrefer.com]
*[http://Alabamamilebymile.com Alabamamilebymile.com] features an online map of the Alabama River between Selma and Tallassee including navigational, recreational and cultural landmarks. (Dead link 2007-04-28)

<gallery>
Image:USACE Claiborne Lock and Dam.jpg|Claiborne Lock and Dam on the Alabama River, approximately 5 miles (8 km) upriver from Claiborne, Monroe County, Alabama
Image:USACE Robert F Henry Lock and Dam.jpg|Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River, approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of Selma, Alabama
Image:Cesam249.jpg|Millers Ferry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River in Wilcox County, Alabama, approximately 9.5 miles (15 km) northwest of Camden
</gallery>

[[Category:Rivers of Alabama]]

[[de:Alabama River]]
[[es:Río Alabama]]
[[fr:Alabama (rivière)]]
[[ko:앨라배마 강]]
[[lt:Alabama (upė)]]
[[pl:Alabama (rzeka)]]