Tar River

The Tar River is a river that is approximately 346 kilometers (215 mi) long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. The Tar River becomes the tidal Pamlico River once it underpasses the U.S. Highway 17 Bridge in Washington, North Carolina.

North Carolina was originally a naval stores colony--that is, the blanket of long leaf pines that covered the coastal plain was used by the British Navy for ships' masts and the pine pitch was used to manufacture tar caulking for vessels. The river derives its name from its historic use as a major route for tar-laden barges as they headed to the sea. The city of Tarboro is on the banks of the river.

Flooding in 1999

Tar River in Greenville

Among the towns and cities along its course are Louisburg, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and Greenville. The village of Old Sparta was formerly an important riverport on the Tar, but has declined in the 20th century.

The river was strongly affected by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and caused much flooding in the area. The Tar River suffered the worst flooding from the hurricane, exceeding 500-year flood levels along its lower stretches; it crested 24 feet (7.3 m) above flood stage. When the river flooded in 1999, the height in Greenville was approximately 30ft.

There is also a Tar River in Montserrat, West Indies, a river Tar in Ireland,and a Tar River in south Kyrgyzstan.

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tar River