Where is the Penobscot River?

The Penobscot River is 350 mi (563 km) long, making it the second longest river in the U.S. state of Maine and the longest river entirely in Maine. Its drainage basin contains 8,610 square miles.

It rises in four branches in several lakes in the central Maine, and flows generally east. After the uniting of the branches, it flows south, past the city of Bangor, where it becomes navigable. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Penobscot Bay. It is home to the Penobscot people that live on Indian Island, Maine.


Panorama of the Penobscot River in Millinocket, Maine.The United States government maintains three river flow gages on the Penobscot river. The first is on the East Branch in Grindstone, Maine ( 45°43′49″N, 68°35′22″W) where the rivershed is 1,086 square miles. Flow here has ranged from 37,000 to 77 cubic feet per second. The second is in West Enfield, Maine ( 45°14′12″N, 68°38′57″W) where the rivershed is 6,671 square miles. Flow here has ranged from 153,000 to 1,630 cubic feet per second. The third is in Eddington, Maine ( 45°14′12″N, 68°38′57″W), 0.4 miles downstream from the Veazie Dam where the rivershed is 7,764 square miles.[1]

The first European known to have explored the river was the English navigator Martin Pring in 1603. The following year in 1604 the French explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed up the course of the river. The river has been historically important for hydroelectric power for paper mills, and for the transportation of timber. The wooded areas around the upper reaches of the river are noted for providing recreational hunting, fishing and canoeing. Author Stephen King placed his fictional town of Derry, Maine on the Penobscot. It is also featured in the film adaptation of the Tom Clancy novel,The Hunt for Red October