Patoka River facts for kids
The Patoka River is a river in southwestern Indiana, United States. It's about 167-kilometre-long (104 mi). This river flows through forests and farms in the hills north of Evansville. Its name, "Patoka," comes from an old Indian word meaning "log on bottom."
Contents
The Patoka River's Journey
The Patoka River starts in the Hoosier National Forest in Orange County, Indiana. This is about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southeast of Paoli, Indiana. The river generally flows west.
It passes through Patoka Lake, which is a large reservoir. This lake helps control floods. After the lake, the river winds a lot, making big loops called oxbows. It flows past hilly areas near Jasper. Then it continues west through Pike and Gibson counties.
The Patoka River eventually joins the Wabash River from the east. This meeting point is across from Mount Carmel, Illinois. It's about 48 kilometres (30 mi) north-northwest of Evansville. The Patoka River's mouth is about 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) downstream from where the White River joins the Wabash.
Wildlife and Conservation Efforts
The Patoka River used to have many different kinds of animals living in it. These included mussels, crayfish, and various fish. However, a study in 1994 found that about a third of the streams in the river's area had almost no aquatic life.
Scientists believe this decline happened because of pollution. This pollution came from acidic water running off from mining areas. There were also spills and contamination from oil and natural gas exploration.
Today, four types of freshwater crayfish still live in the river. This includes the main group of the Indiana crayfish (Orconectes indianensis).
To help protect the river, about 48 kilometres (30 mi) of it were set aside in 1994. This area is now called the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages it. This refuge protects one of the most important bottomland hardwood forests left in Indiana.
Fun and Recreation at Patoka Lake
Patoka Lake is a very popular place for fun activities in the region. There are four state parks along its shores. People can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, and other outdoor activities there.
Places Named After the River
Several areas are named after the Patoka River. These include townships in Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, and Pike counties.
