Kinzua Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kinzua Creek |
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Kinzua Creek in the Allegheny National Forest near the Allegheny Reservoir
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 Location of the mouth of Kinzua Creek in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | McKean |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cyclone, McKean County, Pennsylvania 2,220 ft (680 m) 41°50′8″N 78°35′13″W / 41.83556°N 78.58694°W |
| River mouth | Allegheny River Allegheny Reservoir, McKean County, Pennsylvania 1,328 ft (405 m) 41°51′29″N 78°57′13″W / 41.85806°N 78.95361°W |
| Length | 26.5 mi (42.6 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 86 sq mi (220 km2) |
Kinzua Creek is a stream about 26.5 miles (42.6 km) long. It flows into the Allegheny River in McKean County, Pennsylvania. The name "Kinzua" comes from a Native American word meaning "turkey."
About Kinzua Creek
Kinzua Creek starts in McKean County, Pennsylvania. It flows through beautiful areas, including parts of the Allegheny National Forest. The creek is a smaller stream that feeds into the larger Allegheny River.
The Kinzua Bridge
The upper part of Kinzua Creek flows through Kinzua Bridge State Park. Here, the creek was once crossed by a very tall and famous railroad bridge. This bridge was called the Kinzua Viaduct. It was one of the longest and highest railroad bridges in the world.
Sadly, a powerful tornado destroyed most of the viaduct in 2003. Today, visitors can still see the remains of the bridge. It is now a skywalk that lets people look down into the valley where Kinzua Creek flows.
The Kinzua Dam and Reservoir
Kinzua Creek eventually flows into the Allegheny Reservoir. This large lake was created by building the Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River. The reservoir is about 10 miles (16 km) upstream from the city of Warren.
When the Kinzua Dam was built in the 1960s, the reservoir covered some old communities. These included a place called Kinzua and parts of Corydon. These areas were flooded to make way for the new reservoir.
