Name: _________________________________Period: ___________ Date: ___________________________
River Basin Riddler
1. A feature in this basin sounds like a super-hero's hide-out, but it really is home to a rare flying
mammal.
2. People love to visit this basin's 900 foot gneissic ('nI-sik) rock tower.
3. This basin has more businesses and factories than any other basin, and has more people
living in it than any other NC basin.
4. This basin is home to an endangered minnow that is endemic to the basin.
5. This basin has the largest man-made lake in the state.
6. The main river in this basin was named for Native Americans that have lived in the area for
more than 10,000 years.
7. This basin contains a city founded by Europeans in 1655.
8. This basin contains Merchant's Millpond, which has lots of Spanish moss, two alligators, some
very old "knees" and a really big tree.
9. The tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River is in this basin.
10. A 9-inch aquatic salamander and a very unusual turtle call this basin home.
11. This basin is home to an endemic freshwater mollusk, and contains the remains of an ancient
Native American village.
12. The Cullasaja Gorge is on the National Forest Scenic Byway and is located in this basin. You
can see several waterfalls from the road--and there is one that you can see very closely.
13. Native aquatic mammals were released into this basin, which has made its streams healthier.
14. This basin contains large swamps and the unusual Carolina bays that contain many different
species of plants.
15. This basin is home to a unique "dog" that was named after the river it lives in. It's also home to
a rare fish and mollusk.
16. A feature that would usually only be found in the mountains is located in this eastern basin.
17. The river for which this basin was named has a very misleading name.
18. Many rare, tiny turtles can be found in this basin.
19. Orville and Wilber Wright traveled to this basin to practice flying —and today people hang glide
from its tall sand-dunes.
20. In this basin, you can find ancient artifacts made from cypress logs and go on a “howling” with
your friends at one of its many wildlife refuges.
21. This basin contains only 4 % of the state’s people, but you could still say it is the most densely
populated river basin in North Carolina.
22. The river for which this basin was named once had a bad reputation and a spooky nickname.
23. There is something missing in this basin that makes its name seem rather strange.
24. This basin’s only state park contains three endemic fish.
25. This basin is named for two rivers, which are really just two different parts of the same river.
26. This basin is a big producer of several farm products and commercial fish.
27. This basin contains a famous mountain that you may have heard of. It has a mile-high
swinging bridge and a weather station that reports to TV stations across NC.
28. This basin is home to several rare animals, including two flying mammals (one actually just
glides). However, trout are not rare in its rivers and streams.
29. This basin’s many wetlands are the few places in the world that several rare carnivorous plants
can be found.
30. Even though this basin is far from the ocean, it has a group of ancient islands in it.
31. This basin is filled with history. It was home to ancient Native American culture and was the
scene of North Carolina’s own Gold Rush.
Name: _________________________________Period: ___________ Date: ___________________________
River Basin Riddler
1. A feature in this basin sounds like a super-hero's hide-out, but it really is home to a rare flying
mammal.
2. People love to visit this basin's 900 foot gneissic ('nI-sik) rock tower.
3. This basin has more businesses and factories than any other basin, and has more people
living in it than any other NC basin.
4. This basin is home to an endangered minnow that is endemic to the basin.
5. This basin has the largest man-made lake in the state.
6. The main river in this basin was named for Native Americans that have lived in the area for
more than 10,000 years.
7. This basin contains a city founded by Europeans in 1655.
8. This basin contains Merchant's Millpond, which has lots of Spanish moss, two alligators, some
very old "knees" and a really big tree.
9. The tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River is in this basin.
10. A 9-inch aquatic salamander and a very unusual turtle call this basin home.
11. This basin is home to an endemic freshwater mollusk, and contains the remains of an ancient
Native American village.
12. The Cullasaja Gorge is on the National Forest Scenic Byway and is located in this basin. You
can see several waterfalls from the road--and there is one that you can see very closely.
13. Native aquatic mammals were released into this basin, which has made its streams healthier.
14. This basin contains large swamps and the unusual Carolina bays that contain many different
species of plants.
15. This basin is home to a unique "dog" that was named after the river it lives in. It's also home to
a rare fish and mollusk.
16. A feature that would usually only be found in the mountains is located in this eastern basin.
17. The river for which this basin was named has a very misleading name.
18. Many rare, tiny turtles can be found in this basin.
19. Orville and Wilber Wright traveled to this basin to practice flying —and today people hang glide
from its tall sand-dunes.
20. In this basin, you can find ancient artifacts made from cypress logs and go on a “howling” with
your friends at one of its many wildlife refuges.
21. This basin contains only 4 % of the state’s people, but you could still say it is the most densely
populated river basin in North Carolina.
22. The river for which this basin was named once had a bad reputation and a spooky nickname.
23. There is something missing in this basin that makes its name seem rather strange.
24. This basin’s only state park contains three endemic fish.
25. This basin is named for two rivers, which are really just two different parts of the same river.
26. This basin is a big producer of several farm products and commercial fish.
27. This basin contains a famous mountain that you may have heard of. It has a mile-high
swinging bridge and a weather station that reports to TV stations across NC.
28. This basin is home to several rare animals, including two flying mammals (one actually just
glides). However, trout are not rare in its rivers and streams.
29. This basin’s many wetlands are the few places in the world that several rare carnivorous plants
can be found.
30. Even though this basin is far from the ocean, it has a group of ancient islands in it.
31. This basin is filled with history. It was home to ancient Native American culture and was the
scene of North Carolina’s own Gold Rush.