Mohawk River

Mohawk River
Cohoes Falls, near the eastern end of the Mohawk River in Cohoes, New York
Hudson River watershed map showing the Mohawk River
EtymologyNamed for Mohawk Nation
Native nameTeionontatátie (Mohawk)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
RegionsCentral New York, Capital Region
CountiesOneida, Herkimer, Montgomery, Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga,
CitiesRome, Utica, Little Falls, Amsterdam, Schenectady, Cohoes
Physical characteristics
SourceEast Branch Mohawk River
 • locationS of Mohawk Hill
 • coordinates43°30′51″N 75°28′02″W / 43.5142362°N 75.4671217°W / 43.5142362; -75.4671217
2nd sourceWest Branch Mohawk River
 • locationW of West Branch
 • coordinates43°22′12″N 75°30′29″W / 43.3700696°N 75.5079556°W / 43.3700696; -75.5079556
Source confluence 
 • locationE of West Branch
 • coordinates43°22′16″N 75°28′6″W / 43.37111°N 75.46833°W / 43.37111; -75.46833
 • elevation932 ft (284 m)
MouthHudson River
 • location
Border of Albany County, Saratoga County, and Rensselaer County, New York
 • coordinates
42°45′39″N 73°41′13″W / 42.76083°N 73.68694°W / 42.76083; -73.68694
 • elevation
10 ft (3.0 m)
Length149 mi (240 km)
Basin size3,460 mi2 (9,000 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationBelow Delta Dam
 • minimum15 cu ft/s (0.42 m3/s)
 • maximum8,560 cu ft/s (242 m3/s)
Discharge 
 • locationCohoes
 • average5,908 cu ft/s (167.3 m3/s)
 • minimum6 cu ft/s (0.17 m3/s)
 • maximum200,000 cu ft/s (5,700 m3/s)
Basin features
River systemHudson River
Tributaries 
 • leftLansing Kill, West Canada Creek, East Canada Creek, Caroga Creek, North Chuctanunda Creek, Alplaus Kill
 • rightOriskany Creek, Otsquago Creek, Canajoharie Creek, Schoharie Creek, Plotter Kill
WaterfallsCohoes Falls

The Mohawk River is a 149-mile-long (240 km) river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River, flowing into it in Cohoes, a few miles north of the state capital of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. A significant portion of the river's valley served as the path of the Erie Canal, key to developing both New York state and the Great Lakes area. The Mohawk's largest tributary, the Schoharie Creek, accounts for over one quarter (26.83%) of the river's watershed, with West Canada Creek contributing another 16.33% of total.