DELAWARE, a river of the United States, which rises on the west side of the Catskill Mountains, state of New York, and after separating Pennsylvania from New York and New Jersey, falls into the Delaware Bay five miles below Newcastle. It is formed by the union of two streams. The Mohawks, or western and main branch, rises from a small lake in Lat. 42. 45. N., at an elevation of 1886 feet above the sea, and flows S.W. for nearly 50 miles, when it turns suddenly to the S.E., flowing in that direction for five miles to the Pennsylvania boundary line in Lat. 42. N. Eight miles below this spot it is joined by the Popatton branch, which has a previous S.W. course of about 50 miles. After the union of these two streams, the river pursues a winding S.E. course between New York and Pennsylvania for 60 miles to the N.W. corner of New Jersey, where it receives the Neversink River. It then turns S.W. along the base of the Kittanning range for 35 miles, in passing through which it forms what is called the "Water Gap," a great natural curiosity. The banks here rise precipitously from the water's edge to the height of 1600 feet, overhung by immense masses of rock, and at the S.E. entrance leaving scarcely room for a road. The passage, however, widens towards the N.W. Its entire length is about 2 miles. From this point it pursues a S.E. and then a S.W. course to Easton, where it receives the Lehigh, a large tributary, from the west. A little below this the river passes through South Mountain, and has a S.E. course to Trenton, 60 miles below Easton; having in that distance 25 rapids, with a total fall of 165 feet. These falls are navigable at high water. The river below Trenton turns to the S.W. until near the bay, which it enters in a S.E. direction, after an entire course of 309 miles. It is navigable for vessels of the largest class to Philadelphia, 40 miles, and for sloops 35 miles farther, to Trenton. Above the falls at Trenton it is navigable for boats of 8 or 9 tons for 100 miles. The Delaware is connected with the Hudson river and the bays of New York by the Delaware and Hudson Canal, the Morris Canal, and the Delaware and Raritan Canal.