44°26′N 68°50′WCoordinates:
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44°26′N 68°50′W
Basin countries United States
Length 109 miles (175 km)
Mouth elevation sea level
Avg. discharge 12,080 cu ft/s (342 m3/s)[1]
Basin area 8,610 sq mi (22,300 km2)
Left tributaries East Branch Penobscot River,
Mattawamkeag River
Right tributaries West Branch Penobscot River,
Piscataquis River
Panorama
of the Penobscot River in Millinocket
The Penobscot River /pəˈnɒbskət/ is a 109-mile-long (175 km)[2] river in the U.S. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to 264 miles (425 km),[2] making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. It arises from four branches in several lakes in north-central Maine, which flow generally east. After the uniting of the West Branch with the East Branch at Medway (45°36′14″N 68°31′52″W), the Penobscot flows 109 miles (175 km) south, past the city of Bangor, where it becomes navigable. Also at Bangor is the tributary Kenduskeag Stream. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Penobscot Bay. It is home to the Penobscot people that live on Indian Island. The United States government maintains three river flow gages on the Penobscot river. The first is on the East Branch in Grindstone (an unincorporated settlement approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Stacyville) (45°43′49″N 68°35′22″W) where the rivershed is 1,086 square miles (2,810 km2). Flow here has ranged from 400 to 1,300 cubic feet per second (37 m3/s).[3] The second is in West Enfield (45°14′12″N 68°38′57″W) where the rivershed is 6,671 square miles (17,280 km2). Flow here has ranged from 4,410 to 9,660 cubic feet per second (274 m3/s).[4] The third is in Eddington (45°14′12″N 68°38′57″W), 0.4 miles (0.64 km) downstream from the Veazie Dam where the rivershed is 7,764 square miles (20,110 km2).[5]
