Buckel's Bog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buckel’s Bog |
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Casselman River
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 Buckel’s Bog
Location in Maryland
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| Location | Garrett County, Maryland, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°41′56″N 79°8′36″W / 39.69889°N 79.14333°W |
| Type | glade |
| Surface area | 160 acres (65 ha) |
Buckel’s Bog was once a large, shallow body of water in Garrett County, Maryland. It covered about 160 acres (65 hectares). This special place was either a shallow lake from a very cold period or a type of wetland called a glade. It existed during the late Pleistocene epoch, which was the last Ice Age. Today, Buckel's Bog is the only known natural lake that ever existed in Maryland.
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What Was Buckel's Bog?
Buckel's Bog was a unique natural area. It formed at the very start of the North Branch of the Casselman River. Imagine a wide, flat, and wet area. That's what a glade is like. This bog was a remnant, or what's left, of a much older landscape.
A Look Back in Time
The bog formed during the late Pleistocene epoch. This was a time when huge ice sheets covered parts of the Earth. Even though the ice didn't reach Maryland, the climate was much colder. This cold weather created special conditions for places like Buckel's Bog to form. It was a "periglacial" lake, meaning it was near icy areas.
The Casselman River and a Famous Bridge
Today, the Casselman River flows right through where Buckel's Bog used to be. The river carries its water north into Pennsylvania. This area has been important for travel for a long time.
The National Road and the Bridge
In the early 1800s, the United States was growing. People wanted to move west. So, a major road called the National Road was planned. This road was like an early highway. It was designed to help people and goods travel westward.
The National Road needed to cross the Casselman River. This crossing was just south of Buckel's Bog. To make the crossing possible, a huge stone bridge was built. It was the largest stone-arch bridge in the country at that time.
The Casselman Bridge was built between 1813 and 1814. It had an 80-foot arch. Wagons and other vehicles started using it in 1815. This amazing stone bridge was used for many years, until 1933. Even though a modern steel bridge now carries traffic nearby, the old stone bridge is still there. It's a historic landmark and the main feature of Maryland’s Casselman River Bridge State Park.
