Thames (river, United States)

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Thames (thāmz), river, c.15 mi (25 km) long, formed by the confluence of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, E Conn., and flowing south to Long Island Sound at New London. Primarily a tidal estuary, it is New London's harbor and the site of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a U.S. navy submarine base. Since 1878 it has been the scene of Yale-Harvard rowing contests.