The state of Ohio takes its name from the Ohio River, which, in turn, originated from the Seneca word ohi:yo’, meaning “good river.” Ohio is a water-rich state bounded on the south by the Ohio River and the north by Lake Erie. Thousands of miles of inland streams and rivers contribute to the quality of life of Ohio’s citizens.
Significant rivers within the state include the Cuyahoga River, Great Miami River, Maumee River, Muskingum River, and Scioto River. The rivers in the northern part of the state drain into the northern Atlantic Ocean via Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River, and the rivers in the southern part of the state drain into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio River and then the Mississippi.
Ohio has approximately 29,113 miles of river, of which 212.9 miles are designated as wild and scenic—less than 1% of the state’s river miles.
