Susquehanna, << `suhs` kwuh HAN uh, >> River is a swift but shallow waterway that flows through industrial and farm areas in the Eastern United States. The river’s main branch—called the North Branch—rises at Otsego Lake in central New York state. It flows southward for 444 miles (715 kilometers) across Pennsylvania into Maryland, where it empties into Chesapeake Bay. The river’s West Branch rises in the Allegheny Mountains of west-central Pennsylvania. It joins the main branch near Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna’s swift current, rock obstructions, and shallow bed discourage shipping. But the Susquehanna has great water-power potential. Several hydroelectric generation stations, coal-fired power plants, and nuclear power plants are located along the river. Deadly floods occurred on the river during heavy storms in 1936, 1972, and 2011.
