The
Sabine River (;
Alibamu:
Sabìina, Sabìnka ) is a
river, long, in the
U.S. states of
Texas and Louisiana. In its lower course, it forms part of the boundary between the two states and empties into
Sabine Lake, an
estuary of the
Gulf of Mexico. The river formed part of the
United States-
Mexican as well as the United States-
Republic of Texas international boundary during the early 19th century. The upper reaches of the river flow through the
prairie country of northeast Texas. Along much of its lower reaches, it flows through
pine forests along the Texas-Louisiana border, and the
bayou country near the Gulf Coast. The river drains an area of , of which is in Texas and in Louisiana. It flows through an area of abundant rainfall and discharges the largest volume of any river in Texas. The name Sabine (
Sp:
Río de Sabinas) comes from the Spanish word for
cypress, in reference to the extensive growth of
Bald cypresses along the lower river. The river flows through an important
petroleum-producing region, and the lower river near the Gulf is among the most industrialized areas of the southeastern United States. The river was often described as the dividing line between the Old South and the New Southwest.