Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the union thanks to its unique geography, which includes the Appalachian Mountains in the north, the Mobile-Tensaw river delta in the south, a Gulf of Mexico coastline, and a huge number of lakes and wetlands as well as creeks and rivers in a number of independent drainage systems.

Roughly 10 percent of the freshwater in the continental U.S. originates in or flows through Alabama. There are about 77,242 miles of rivers and streams in the state. The surface area of water in Alabama is about 33.3 million acres.