Potomac Courses

The Potomac River is a tidal estuary along the Atlantic coast of the United States, near the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. Perhaps the most famous of all American rivers, it is often referred to as the “nation’s river,” carrying with it the history of all the unique people and cultures of this diverse nation. The Potomac River begins near the confluence of the North and South Branches of the river near Hancock, Maryland and continues south for about 380 miles until it empties into the Chesapeake Bay near Point Lookout, Maryland. Along its journey, the Potomac passes through major cities and cultural attractions like Harper’s Ferry, the C&O Canal, Washington DC, the Great Falls of the Potomac, the three bends of the Potomac, the town of Alexandria, and the city of Annapolis. The Potomac is a home to marine life, including fish such as striped bass, shad, and hickory shad. It is also a popular recreation waterway. Boating and kayaking are popular along the river, as are swimming, fishing, and enjoying the bankside scenery. The Potomac River is also a source of tourism and industry in the Mid-Atlantic region. It's estuary is a thriving nursery for nursery fish species and an important spawning area for numerous bird species. And its waters have historically provided the region’s residents with drinking water, irrigation water, and power for transportation, as well as a source of food and work for local fishermen and harvesters for centuries.