History Mystic River

For other uses, see Mystic River (disambiguation).

Mystic River A quiet afternoon on the Mystic River, as seen from very close to Grandfather's House, Medford, Massachusetts Name origin: from Wampanoag Muhs-uhtuq meaning "big river" Country United States State Massachusetts District Middlesex County Municipalities Everett, Somerville, Medford, Arlington Tributaries - left Alewife Brook - right Chelsea Creek, Malden River Source Lower Mystic Lake Mouth Boston Harbor Length 6 mi (10 km), roughly east-west Basin 76 sq mi (197 km2) Boston Harbor basin, showing the Mystic River drainage Website: http://www.mysticriver.org/

Mystic River and environs

The Mystic River is the name of a short river in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. Its name derives from the Wampanoag word "muhs-uhtuq", which translates to "big river". It lies to the north of and flows approximately parallel to the lower portions of the Charles River.

Mystic River has a long history of industrial use and a continuing water quality problem. Encompassing 76 square miles (197 km²) of watershed, the river flows from the Lower Mystic Lake, and travels through the Boston, Massachusetts area communities of Arlington, Medford, Somerville, Everett, Charlestown, Chelsea, and East Boston. The river joins the Charles River to form inner Boston Harbor. Its watershed contains 44 lakes and ponds, the largest of which is Spot Pond in the Middlesex Fells, with an area of 307 acres (1.2 km²). Significant portions of the river's shores are within the Mystic River Reservation and are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which include a variety of recreation areas.