Little Conemaugh River facts for kids
The Little Conemaugh River is a river in western Pennsylvania, United States. It's about 30 miles (48 km) long. It flows into the Conemaugh River. A "tributary" is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.
The Little Conemaugh River starts in eastern Cambria County. This is on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains. It flows west through mountains, passing towns like Cassandra, Portage, and Summerhill. At Summerhill, another part called the South Fork Little Conemaugh River joins it. Finally, the Little Conemaugh River meets the Stonycreek River in Johnstown. Together, they form the Conemaugh River.
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Protecting the River: Mine Drainage Challenges
The Little Conemaugh River flows through beautiful mountain areas. However, it has faced big challenges from old coal mines. For a long time, people mined a lot of coal in this region. When mines are left empty, water can flow through them. This water picks up harmful chemicals. This is called "abandoned mine drainage."
One famous example is the Hughes bore hole. This drainage has made the river unhealthy. Many groups are working to clean up the river. These include government agencies and private organizations. They are trying to bring the river back to health.
River's Role in History and Transportation
The Little Conemaugh River valley has been important for travel for hundreds of years. The Appalachian Mountains are like a big wall. There are only a few natural paths through them in the United States. The river's upper valley is one of these paths. It slopes gently enough for people to travel through it easily.
Early Travel Routes
Long ago, Native Americans used this valley to travel between the east and west. They used simple vehicles like travois. Later, settlers used wagons like Conestoga Wagons. The river's path helped connect the Ohio Valley to the eastern parts of Pennsylvania.
Connecting East and West by Canal and Rail
In the 1800s, Pennsylvania wanted to connect its eastern cities to the growing settlements in the west. They built a huge project called the Pennsylvania Canal System. This system reached Johnstown through the river valley.
A special railroad was also built along the river. It was called the Allegheny Portage Railroad. This railroad connected two parts of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. It helped boats and goods move over the mountains. The railroad started operating in 1834. It was later sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1854. Since then, the river's banks have been a very important route for trains crossing the Appalachian Mountains.
The Johnstown Flood of 1889
On May 31, 1889, a terrible event happened. A dam on the South Fork of the river broke. This dam held back a large lake. When it broke, a huge wall of water rushed down the Little Conemaugh River. The water was moving at 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). It was up to 60 feet (18 m) high.
This flood caused a terrible disaster in Johnstown. It resulted in the loss of 2,209 lives. This event is known as the Johnstown Flood. It was one of the worst civilian disasters in the United States in the 1800s.
