Artichoke River (Massachusetts)

Artichoke River
Lower Artichoke River
Artichoke River (Massachusetts) is located in Massachusetts
Artichoke River (Massachusetts)
Location of mouth in Massachusetts
Location
CountryUS
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationWest Newbury, Massachusetts
 • elevation20 feet (6 m) at West Newbury, Massachusetts
Mouth 
 • location
Merrimack River
Length1.2 miles (2 km)
Basin size3.5 square miles (9.1 km2)

42°49′12″N 70°56′19″W / 42.82000°N 70.93861°W / 42.82000; -70.93861 The Artichoke River (1.2 miles (1.9 km)long),[1] is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts in the United States. It is in Essex County, Massachusetts, and flows generally north, marking the boundary between West Newbury and Newburyport. The Upper and Lower Artichoke reservoirs are impoundments of the river that acts as a water source for nearby towns. Despite the short length of the river, there are three dams along its course, the Emory Lane Dam, the Lower Artichoke Dam and the Upper Artichoke Dam.[1] The river is named for the Jerusalem Artichoke, which had been harvested nearby by Native Americans and early settlers.[2]

  1. ^ a b accessed October 26, 2016 [dead link]
  2. ^ Peter Muise (2011-11-29). "NEW ENGLAND FOLKLORE: Jerusalem Artichokes". Newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-10-27.