James River

The James River is a river in Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers in Botetourt County 348 miles (560 km) to the Chesapeake Bay. The river length extends to 444 miles (715 km) if the Jackson River, the longer of its two headwaters, is included. It is the longest river in Virginia. Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia's first colonial capitals, and Richmond, Virginia's current capital, lie on the James River. The James River's watershed covers a large portion of the state of Virginia and impacts millions of residents. A major source of drinking water, the river is one of the most important natural resources in the state.