Intracoastal Waterway | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Specifications | |
Length | 3,000 miles (4,800 km) |
History | |
Date completed | June 18, 1949 |
Geography | |
Start point | Annisquam River |
End point | Brownsville, Texas |
Branch(es) | Gulf Intracoastal Waterway |
Connects to | Atlantic portion Gulf portion |
The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Massachusetts southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, then following the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas. Some sections of the waterway consist of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, and sounds, while others are artificial canals. It provides a navigable route along its length without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea.