ALABAMA RIVER, a river of Alabama, U.S.A., formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about 6m. above Montgomery. It flows west as far as Selma, then south-west until, about 45m. f rom Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee to form the Mobile and Tensas rivers, which discharge into Mobile bay. The course of the Alabama is tortuous; its width varies from 600 to goof t., its depth from 3 to 7ft.; its length by the United States Survey is 312m.; by steamboat measurement, 42om. The river crosses the richest agricultural and timber districts of the State, and railways connect it with the mineral regions of north central Alabama. The principal tributary of the Alabama is the Cahaba (about 200M. long), which enters it about om. below Selma. Of the rivers which form the Alabama, the Coosa crossea the mineral region of Alabama, and is navigable for light-draft boats from Rome, Georgia (where it is formed by the junction of the Oosten aula and Etowah rivers), to about ii7m. above Wetumpka (about 192m. below Rome and 26m. below Greensport), and from We tumpka to its junction with the Tallapoosa; the channel of the river has been considerably improved by the Federal government. The navigation of the Tallapoosa river (which has its source in Paulding county, Ga., and is 25om. long) is prevented by shoals and a 6oft. fall at Tallassee, a few miles north of its junc tion with the Coosa. The Alabama, which is navigable throughout the year, is an important carrier of cotton, cotton seed, fertilizer, cereals, lumber and naval stores.