Thames River

The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in eastern Connecticut. It flows south for 15 miles from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich to New London and Groton, which sit on either side of its mouth at Long Island Sound. The river is between about 377 and 4,348 feet wide. Its watershed includes the 80-mile Quinebaug River, which rises in southern Massachusetts and joins the Shetucket about four miles northeast of Norwich. The river was first known as the Pequot River. It was renamed Thames after the river in London, England, once the town was officially named New London in 1658.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) runs public launches on the river. Stoddard Hill Boat Launch is a year-round car-top and carry-in site in Stoddard Hill State Park, on Route 12 in Ledyard on the river's east side. It has 20 paved parking spaces and no docks. DEEP also lists the KE Streeter Boat Launch near Groton and the Thames River Boat Launch near New London. On the Thames, boats are limited to 6 mph within 200 feet of any dock, pier or wharf. In New London, boats under power may not operate within 200 feet of a bathing beach, bathing area, raft or float.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, a U.S. Navy submarine base and the Electric Boat shipyard all sit on the river. USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, was launched into the river from Electric Boat on January 21, 1954. Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull overlook the mouth, and the Harvard-Yale Regatta is held in New London every year.