The Big Sandy River at its confluence with the Ohio River. The land in the foreground is West Virginia, that on the left is Kentucky, while the background is Ohio.

Map of the watershed of the Big Sandy River, showing its main tributaries, Tug Fork to the east and Levisa Fork to the west.

The Big Sandy River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 28.79 mi (43 km) long, in western West Virginia and northeastern Kentucky in the United States. The river forms part of the boundary between the two states along its entire course. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 487 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,045 × 1,245 pixels, file size: 494 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Taken by me Jan 3 2007. ... Look up confluence in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Levisa Fork River (also called simply the Levisa Fork or the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, approximately 164 mi (264 km) long, in southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky in the United States. ... River Wey near its source at Farringdon, Hampshire Headstream is the origin of water flow that initiates the subject watercourse. ... Look up confluence in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Tug Fork River (also called simply the Tug Fork or the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, 154 mi (248 km) long, in southwestern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and in eastern Kentucky in the United States. ... The Levisa Fork River (also called simply the Levisa Fork or the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, approximately 164 mi (264 km) long, in southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky in the United States. ... Louisa is a city located in Lawrence County, Kentucky. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... Catlettsburg is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States. ... The Norfolk Southern Bridge as seen from Kenova Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. ... A drainage basin is the area within the drainage basin divide (blue outline), and drains the surface runoff and river discharge (green lines) of a contiguous area. ... River Wey near its source at Farringdon, Hampshire Headstream is the origin of water flow that initiates the subject watercourse. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Look up tributary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Largest metro area Charleston metro area Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... A drainage basin is the area within the drainage basin divide (blue outline), and drains the surface runoff and river discharge (green lines) of a contiguous area. ...

It is formed between Louisa, Kentucky and Fort Gay, West Virginia by the confluence of the Tug Fork and Levisa Fork. It flows generally northwardly in a highly meandering course, between Lawrence and Boyd Counties in Kentucky and Wayne County in West Virginia. It joins the Ohio between Catlettsburg, Kentucky and Kenova, West Virginia, 8 mi (13 km) west of Huntington, West Virginia, at the common boundary between West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Louisa is a city located in Lawrence County, Kentucky. ... Fort Gay is a town located in Wayne County, West Virginia. ... Confluence of Rhine and Mosel at Koblenz In geography, a confluence describes the point where two rivers meet and become one, usually when a tributary joins a more major river. ... The Tug Fork River (also called simply the Tug Fork or the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, 154 mi (248 km) long, in southwestern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and in eastern Kentucky in the United States. ... The Levisa Fork River (also called simply the Levisa Fork or the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, approximately 164 mi (264 km) long, in southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky in the United States. ... A meander is a bend in a river, also known as an oxbow loop. ... Lawrence County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... Boyd County is located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. ... Wayne County is the westernmost county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. ... Catlettsburg is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States. ... The Norfolk Southern Bridge as seen from Kenova Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. ... Huntington is a city located in the U.S. State of West Virginia along the Ohio River. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

The river is navigable and carries commercial shipping, primarily coal mined in the immediate region. A river or canal is Navigatable if the water is deep and wide enough, and not flowing too fast. ... Coal Example chemical structure of coal Coal (pronounced ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ...

The name of the river comes from the presence of extensive sand bars. The Native American names for the river included Tatteroa, Chatteroi, and Chatterwha which had similar meaning to the English name.^{[citation needed]} It was known to the Lenape as Sikeacepe,^{[citation needed]} meaning "Salt River", from the presence of salt licks on the river (see: Licking River). This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... For the language, see Lenape language. ... A salt lick is a salt deposit that animals regularly lick. ... The mouth of the Licking River, where it joins the Ohio River The Licking River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 320 mi (515 km) long in northeastern Kentucky in the United States. ...

Two well-known fiddle-tunes take their name from the Big Sandy River: "Sandy River Belle" and the "Big Sandy River".

See also

• List of Kentucky rivers
• List of West Virginia rivers
• Little Sandy River

This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Kentucky Big Sandy River Clarks River Cumberland River Dix River Green River Kentucky River Levisa Fork River (Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River) Licking River Little Kentucky River Middle Fork Kentucky River Mississippi River Mud River North... This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of West Virginia. ... Bridges built for the Eastern Kentucky Railway, now used by KY 773 The Little Sandy River is a tributary of the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky in the United States. ...

References

1. ^ USGS GNIS: Tug Fork
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. Catlettsburg quadrangle, Kentucky. 1:24,000. 7.5 Minute Series. Washington D.C.: USGS, 1985.

External links

• University of Kentucky: Big Sandy Basin assessment