Levisa Fork facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Levisa Fork |
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The Levisa Fork in Paintsville
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Map of the Big Sandy River watershed, with its Levisa Fork (left) and Tug Fork (right) tributaries shown
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky, Virginia |
| Counties | Buchanan VA, Pike KY, Floyd KY, Johnson KY, Lawrence KY |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gap of Sandy Buchanan County, VA 2,657 ft (810 m) 37°09′06″N 81°54′04″W / 37.15167°N 81.90111°W |
| River mouth | Big Sandy River Louisa, KY 545 ft (166 m) 38°07′05″N 82°36′06″W / 38.11806°N 82.60167°W |
| Length | 164 mi (264 km) |
The Levisa Fork is a river in the United States. It flows through southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky. This river is about 164 miles (264 km) long. It is an important branch of the Big Sandy River.
Contents
About the Levisa Fork
The Levisa Fork starts in the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia. This is in eastern Buchanan County, near Grundy.
Where the River Flows
The river flows west into Pike County, Kentucky. Here, it forms a lake called Fishtrap Lake. After this, it joins with the Russell Fork river. Then, it flows northwest through towns like Pikeville and Prestonsburg.
Long ago, the river made a big loop around downtown Pikeville. But a huge project called the Pikeville Cut-Through changed its path. This project, finished in 1987, moved the river so it now goes around the city. At Paintsville, the river turns north. It flows through Johnson and Lawrence counties. Finally, it meets the Tug Fork river at Louisa, near the West Virginia border. Together, they form the Big Sandy River.
River's History and Use
The Levisa Fork was once very important for moving logs. This was called log driving. Parts of the river can still be used by boats for business. This is possible because of special water gates called locks. In the early 1900s, boats could travel as far as Pikeville.
Different Names for the River
The Levisa Fork has had a few different names. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says its official name is Levisa Fork. Other names include Louisa River, Louisa Fork, Lavisa Fork, and West Fork.
One story says that an explorer named Dr. Thomas Walker named a nearby river the Louisa River. He named it after Princess Louisa. Over time, people might have forgotten the original name. This could have led to the name changing to Levisa.
Another story is about a girl named Levicee. She was taken by the Shawnee people in 1756. As she was carried along, she wrote her name on tree trunks. This is how the river might have gotten its name, Levisa Fork.
Important Event
On February 28, 1958, a school bus had an accident in Floyd County. It went into the Levisa Fork. This event was a very sad moment in American history.
See also
In Spanish: Río Levisa Fork para niños
