Winnipesaukee River

river, New Hampshire, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

The Winnipesaukee River is a river in New Hampshire, United States. It originates from Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest lake, and flows southwest for approximately 20 miles to Franklin. There, it merges with the Merrimack River. The Merrimack River then continues its course through New Hampshire and into Massachusetts before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Historically, the Merrimack River's waterpower was crucial for the textile industry in New England.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Lake Winnipesaukee
Its outlet, the Winnipesaukee River, flows about 20 miles southwest to Franklin, where it enters the Merrimack River. The meaning of the lake’s Indian name is much disputed, but a commonly accepted translation is “good outlet.”
Read More
Its outlet, the Winnipesaukee River, flows about 20 miles southwest to Franklin, where it enters the Merrimack River. The meaning of the lake’s Indian name is much disputed, but a commonly accepted translation is “good outlet.”
Read More