Waccamaw River

It drains an area of approximately 1,110 square miles (2886 km2) in the coastal plain along the eastern border between the two states into the Atlantic Ocean.

Along its upper course, it is a slow-moving, blackwater river surrounded by vast wetlands, passable only by shallow-draft watercraft such as canoe.

Along its lower course, it is lined by sandy banks and old plantation houses, providing an important navigation channel with a unique geography, flowing roughly parallel to the coast.

[citation needed] Since the early 20th century, the Waccamaw's lower course in South Carolina forms part of what is now known as the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

In addition, the river's extensive wetlands provide habitat for diverse species, including the Carolina pygmy sunfish and the American black bear.

A much larger area was acquired by the federal government for the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1997 near the confluence of these three rivers.