Chiques Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chiques Creek |
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Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge spans Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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| Country | Lebanon and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mount Gretna Heights, Pennsylvania 1,100 feet (340 m) |
| River mouth | Susquehanna River at Marietta, Pennsylvania 230 feet (70 m) |
| Length | 31.6 miles (50.9 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 126 square miles (330 km2) |
Chiques Creek is a stream in Pennsylvania, USA. It flows for about 31.6 miles (50.9 km). This creek is a "tributary," which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger one. Chiques Creek flows into the Susquehanna River. You can find it in Lebanon and Lancaster counties.
The creek starts high up, about 1,100 feet (335 meters) above sea level. This starting point is near Mount Gretna Heights in Lebanon County. It ends where it joins the Susquehanna River in Marietta, Lancaster County. At this point, it's about 230 feet (70 meters) above sea level.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Chiques Creek
The name of Chiques Creek comes from the Lenape people. They are a Native American group. The original Lenape word was Chiquesalunga. This word means "place of crayfish." Crayfish are small creatures that look like tiny lobsters and live in freshwater.
The official name of the creek has changed over time. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a group that names places. In 1896 and 1916, they called it Chickies Creek. Then, in 2002, they officially changed the name to Chiques Creek.
Where Does Chiques Creek Flow?
Chiques Creek generally flows south. It travels this direction for its entire journey. The area of land that drains into Chiques Creek is called its "watershed." This watershed covers about 126 square miles (326 square kilometers).
The Chiques Creek watershed is part of a much bigger area. This larger area is called the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. A drainage basin is all the land where water flows into a specific river, lake, or bay. So, all the water in Chiques Creek eventually makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay.
Meet the Tributaries of Chiques Creek
Chiques Creek has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries. The biggest tributary is Little Chiques Creek. It joins the main creek about one mile (1.6 km) before Chiques Creek meets the Susquehanna River.
Other streams that flow into Chiques Creek include:
- Donegal Creek
- Dellinger Run
- Hife Run
- Boyers Run
- Shearers Creek
Historic Covered Bridges Along the Creek
Five beautiful covered bridges cross Chiques Creek in Lancaster County. These bridges are old and special. They have roofs and sides, which helped protect the wooden parts from weather.
The covered bridges are:
