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The Official Website of the State of West Virginia

A Fresh Perspective—Kanawha River

8/26/2022

Our rivers are important pathways that connect our past to our future. Float with us as we pay homage to some of our majestic waterways and the towns that embrace them. 
Formed where the scenic New and Gauley rivers join, the Kanawha served early settlers as a pathway west to the Ohio River. Rich deposits of coal, natural gas, and brine became an economic engine for the state: Those raw materials and groundbreaking science gave rise here to the global petrochemical industry. The Kanawha’s once-lively steamboat culture is celebrated.
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