When most people think of rivers, they tend to believe they’re nothing more than just a body of water. That’s not the case at all. The truth is, rivers serve many different purposes. One Alabama river in particular that serves many different purposes is the Cahaba River. From outdoor recreation opportunities to providing a home for many rare species, here are 10 reasons why Alabama’s Cahaba River is so much more than just a body of water:
- With a length of 194 miles, the Cahaba River is Alabama’s longest free-flowing river.
flickr/I Believe I Can Fry
- It’s also one of Alabama’s 10 natural wonders.
flickr/toml1959
- If you’re a fan of the outdoors, the Cahaba River is the perfect place to spend the day canoeing or kayaking.
flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region
- With more than 135 fish species, this amazing river also offers many great fishing opportunities.
YouTube/L GOTHARD
- The Cahaba River is one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse rivers in the U.S.
facebook/Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
- It also provides access to four Alabama state parks: Tannehill State Park, Oak Mountain State Park, Paul M. Grist State Park and Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park.
flickr/Dystopos
- And because the Cahaba River provides access to these parks, there are many camping and hiking opportunities within the Cahaba River Basin.
flickr/Shannon McGee
- In September 2002, a portion of the river was established as the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.
facebook/Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
- There are 13 snail species living in the Cahaba River that don’t exist anywhere else in the world.
facebook/Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
- An abundance of Cahaba lillies grow from mid-May to mid-June in the Cahaba River. The majority of these plants are located within the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.
flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region
As you can see, Alabama’s Cahaba River is so much more than just a body of water. It’s a beautiful piece of nature that we can’t imagine going without.
flickr/I Believe I Can Fry
flickr/toml1959
flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region
YouTube/L GOTHARD
facebook/Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
flickr/Dystopos
flickr/Shannon McGee
With that being said, the Cahaba River isn’t the only beautiful river here in Alabama. For more beautiful rivers, take a look at our previous article: There’s Something Incredible About These 10 Rivers In Alabama.
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