Why does the New River flow north?

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – The New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, is unique in its northward flow through the Appalachian Mountains.

Unlike most rivers in the United States, which generally flow southward due to the natural slope of the land, the New River defies this pattern.

Geologists believe that the northward flow of the New River is due to its ancient origin. The river is estimated to be between 260 and 325 million years old, predating the formation of the Appalachian Mountains themselves.

As the mountains formed due to tectonic shifts, the New River already had an established path. Instead of changing direction with the rising land, the river maintained its course, cutting through the newly formed mountains.

The river flows from its source in North Carolina through Virginia and West Virginia, where it joins the Kanawha River.

Its long history and resistance to geological changes explain why this river flows against what would normally be expected, making it a geological anomaly in our region.