Mohawk River is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk rises in central New York state, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Rome. It flows southeast for 148 miles (238 kilometers) and enters the Hudson River about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Albany.
The Mohawk River was named for the Mohawk people who lived in the west part of the Mohawk Valley. The valley has served as a lowland transportation route between the Hudson Valley and the Great Lakes region since precolonial days. The Erie Canal, two railroads, and the New York State Thruway run parallel to the river for much of its length. Two railroads, a highway, and the main branch of the New York State Canal System run along the Mohawk for much of its length.
