Spanish River (Alabama)

The Spanish River is a brackish distributary river that forms part of the border between Baldwin and Mobile counties in Alabama. It is approximately 8 miles (13 km) long and is influenced by tides. It begins at the northernmost tip of Blakeley Island, where it diverges from the Mobile River, at 30.772°N 88.0222°W / 30.772; -88.0222. From there it flows along the eastern edge of Blakeley and Pinto islands, and discharges into Mobile Bay south of Pinto Island, at 30.665°N 88.021°W / 30.665; -88.021.^[1]

Spanish River
Location
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	30.772°N 88.022°W / 30.772; -88.022
Mouth
• coordinates	30.665°N 88.021°W / 30.665; -88.021
Length	8 miles (13 km)

It contains two significant shipwrecks that date to the American Civil War period. The Confederate ironclads, CSS Tuscaloosa and CSS Huntsville, were both scuttled in the river on April 12, 1865, to prevent their capture following the surrender of the city of Mobile.^[2]

See also

• List of Alabama rivers

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Spanish River
2. Gaines, W. Craig (2008). Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. LSU Press. pp. 1–8. ISBN 978-0-8071-3274-6.