The North Anna River is a principal tributary of the Pamunkey River, about long,[1] in central Virginia in the United States. Via the Pamunkey and York rivers, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay. The river was the site of the Battle of North Anna during the American Civil War.
According to the Geographic Names Information System, the river has also been known as "Northa-Anna" and as the main stem of the Pamunkey River.
The North Anna River is formed by a confluence of smaller streams in western Orange County and flows generally southeastwardly. The river's course is used to define all or portions of the southern boundaries of Orange, Spotsylvania and Caroline counties; and the northern boundaries of Louisa and Hanover counties. It joins the South Anna River to form the Pamunkey River on the common boundary of Caroline and Hanover counties, about 5miles northeast of the town of Ashland.
The North Anna Dam on the common boundary of Louisa and Spotsylvania counties causes the river to form Lake Anna, which was created to provide water for the adjacent North Anna Nuclear Generating Station.
Near its mouth, the North Anna River collects the Little River. Other tributaries of the North Anna include Pamunkey Creek and Contrary Creek.