Northeast Cape Fear River is a long 5th order tributary to the Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina.
Variant names
According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as: North East River Northeast Fork
Course
Northeast Cape Fear River rises about 1 mile southeast of Mount Olive, North Carolina in Wayne County and about south of Goldsboro and then flows south to the Cape Fear River at Wilmington, North Carolina. On its course it flows past Albertson, Hallsville, and Chinquapin. In Pender County near the Atlantic coast, it passes along the west side of Angola Swamp and Holly Shelter Swamp. It joins the Cape Fear River on the north end of Wilmington, forming an estuary that emerges at Cape Fear. The lower 50 mi (80 km) of the river is tidal.
Watershed
Northeast Cape Fear River drains of area, receives about 53.8 in/year of precipitation, and has a wetness index of 593.72 and is about 19% forested.
Animals and plants
The river and its valley are home to a variety of interesting and uncommon flora and fauna, including the palmetto, cypress, alligator, pileated woodpecker, venus flytrap, and bowfin.
Bridges
Isabelle S. Holmes Bridge (US 74/NC 133) Dan Cameron Bridge (I-140) Frank H. Kenan Bridge (I-40) Northeast Cape Fear Bridge (US 117/NC 133)