As it flows from near the western border of Virginia to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the 340-mile long James River carries with it a rich tradition of history, scenic beauty and abundant natural resources. The upper reaches of the James, part of which have been declared as the Upper James Scenic River by the Virginia General Assembly, reveal one of the premier warm-water stream fisheries and some of the most dramatic mountain vistas to be found anywhere in the Commonwealth. <br> The falls of the James occur in the heart of Richmond--over seven miles the river drops 105 feet in elevation. When Captain John Smith explored the river in May of 1607 he was stopped by the “great craggy stones in the midst of the river, where the water falleth so rudely, and with such a violence, as not any boat can pass.” Settlers, quick to recognize the potential power of the falls for flour mills, paper mills, and iron works, built the nation's first industries. Richmond became a transportation center where goods were unloaded from oceangoing ships and taken farther inland by other means. Today's kayakers and white water enthusiasts relish the falls of the James as some of the finest white water on the East Coast and the only white water which cuts through the heart of an urban area. Virginia's General Assembly has included the falls in the state scenic river system. <br> Below the falls, where the tidal portion of the James begins, the river becomes wide and sluggish. More than a dozen colonial tobacco plantations still overlook this peaceful section of the James. Also along the lower James are the colonial capital at Williamsburg, the first permanent settlement of the British Empire at Jamestown, and 75 other registered historic landmarks. Given this wealth of the nation s past, it is no wonder that the portion of river flowing through Charles City, James City and Surry counties received Historic River designation from the General Assembly in 1988. Also along this section of river, on Powell's Creek in Prince George County, there is a major roosting area for bald eagles. As many as 125 eagles can be seen there and there are two known nesting sites. The Hampton Roads area, at the confluence of the James River and the Elizabeth River, is one of the worlds greatest and busiest harbors as well as an important shipbuilding center. <br> In the midst of this great bustling harbor and just upriver are the major seed oyster beds for the Chesapeake Bay. In the past 50 years approximately 75% of the seed planted on private leases in Virginia came from the James River. Also this is where sooks, or female blue crabs, spawn from May to October and where they bury themselves in the mud for the winter.