Lake Drummond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Drummond |
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Lake Drummond is one of only two natural freshwater lakes in Virginia. Mountain Lake is the other.
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 Lake Drummond
Location in Virginia
Lake Drummond
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chesapeake and Suffolk, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 36°36′08″N 76°28′13″W / 36.60230°N 76.47034°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 3,142 acres (13 km2) |
| Max. depth | 6 ft (2 m) |
Lake Drummond is a freshwater lake located in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp. This swamp is a marshy area found in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The lake covers about 3,142 acres (13 km2) and is only about 6 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service helps manage and protect this special lake.
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How Lake Drummond Was Formed
Scientists have different ideas about how Lake Drummond was created. The Great Dismal Swamp, where the lake sits, was formed when the land dropped suddenly. The whole swamp has a thick layer of peat underneath it.
Theories on Lake Formation
One idea is that a huge underground peat fire created the lake. This fire might have happened between 3,500 and 6,000 years ago. Native American stories also talk about a "fire bird" that made Lake Drummond. Other theories suggest a meteorite hit the area, or that the Earth's plates shifted.
Lake Drummond is one of only two natural freshwater lakes in Virginia. The other is Mountain Lake, located in Giles County. Both lakes are unique because they are found on higher ground within their areas. Lake Drummond is actually the highest point in the Dismal Swamp. Nine small ditches flow out from it.
History and Discovery
People have lived in the Great Dismal Swamp area for a very long time. Evidence shows that humans were there almost 13,000 years ago. By the mid-1600s, most Native Americans had left the area. European settlers were not very interested in the swamp at first.
William Drummond's Discovery
In 1665, a man named William Drummond found the lake. He later became a governor of North Carolina, and the lake was named after him. For many centuries, people cut down trees and used the swamp's resources. This reduced the swamp to about half its original size.
Unique Water Properties
Sailors often filled their water barrels with water from Lake Drummond. The lake's water has a dark color because of its high tannin content. Tannins are natural chemicals from plants. This special water stayed fresh longer during long trips across the Atlantic Ocean. This was a big advantage for ships back then.
Protecting Lake Drummond and Its Wildlife
Today, Lake Drummond and much of the Great Dismal Swamp are part of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was created in 1974 to protect the area. It covers almost 107,000 acres (43,000 ha) of forest wetlands. North Carolina also has a state park, Dismal Swamp State Park, which protects another 22 square miles ([convert: unit mismatch]) of the swamp.
Lake Ecosystem
The water in Lake Drummond has low levels of nutrients. This is because acidic materials from the surrounding peat soils seep into the lake. Because of this, only a few types of fish live there. These include crappie, bowfin, and longnose gar.
Folklore and Legends
Many interesting stories and legends are connected to Lake Drummond and the Great Dismal Swamp.
Phantom Lovers
One famous folklore story is called "Phantom Lovers of Dismal Swamp." This tale is completely based on this mysterious area.
Wicked John and the Devil
Another story, "Wicked John and the Devil," is found in a collection of folktales called Grandfather Tales. This story tells of a man named John who was so bad that even the devil was afraid of him. When John died, the devil gave him a red-hot coal. He told John to go to the Great Dismal Swamp and create his own hell there. According to the legend, you can still see Wicked John wandering the swamp at night with his glowing red coal.
