Portage Lakes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portage Lakes |
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North Reservoir from Portage Lakes Drive
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 Portage Lakes
Location in Ohio
Portage Lakes
Location in the United States
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| Location | Summit County, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 41°0′23″N 81°31′26″W / 41.00639°N 81.52389°W |
| Lake type | artificial and natural |
| Primary outflows | Cuyahoga River and Tuscarawas River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 1,056 ft (322 m) |
The Portage Lakes are a cool group of lakes and reservoirs in Northeast Ohio. Some of them were formed naturally by glaciers. Others were built by people. The name "Portage" comes from an old path used by Native Americans. This path connected two big rivers: the Cuyahoga River (which flows north to Lake Erie) and the Tuscarawas River (which flows south to the Ohio River).
This connection was super helpful! It meant people could travel from Lake Erie all the way to the Ohio River. They only had to walk about eight miles between the rivers. Portage Lakes State Park is located in this area. It's one of the highest spots in Ohio. Water from these lakes flows in two different directions. Some water goes to Lake Erie, and some goes to the Ohio River.
There's also a small community called Portage Lakes in Summit County. It's right near the lakes. Its elevation is about 1,053 feet (321 m).
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A Look Back at the Portage Lakes
The Portage Lakes area was very important long ago. It became a busy trading spot for both settlers and Native Americans. During the War of 1812, it was a well-known meeting place for American soldiers. The old Native American portage path was also a historic boundary. It marked the edge between the Six Nations and the Western Native American tribes.
The Rise of Akron and the Canals
The city of Akron was started in 1825. Many early settlers were Irish workers. They came to help build the Ohio and Erie Canal. Once the canal was finished, Akron grew quickly.
Many important businesses helped the area become successful. These included companies that made stoneware pottery and sewer pipes. The match industry was also big. Later, the tire and rubber industries became very important. For example, one company, the Blue Diamond Match Company, used a huge amount of white pine wood each year to make matches.
Several of the Portage Lakes were created to be "feeder reservoirs" for the canals. This meant they supplied water to keep the canals at the right depth, which was about 4 feet (1.2 m). The lakes were used for this purpose until the canals were no longer needed in 1913. After that, the lakes helped provide water for local factories and businesses. You can still boat on some parts of the old canals near Akron today.
The Ohio Department of Public Works used to manage the canal lands for fun activities. But in 1949, the Portage Lakes were given to a new group. This was the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation. They now take care of the lakes for everyone to enjoy.
Today's Portage Lakes
The Portage Lakes are a popular spot for outdoor fun. People enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming here. The lakes are a great place to connect with nature.
Lakes of the Portage System
The Portage Lakes system includes several different lakes. Each one adds to the beauty and fun of the area. Some of the main lakes are:
- East Reservoir
- West Reservoir
- Turkeyfoot Lake
- Rex Lake
- Mud Lake
- Nimisila Reservoir
- Miller Lake
- Dollar Lake
- Long Lake
- North Reservoir
- Grape Lake
- Hower Lake
- Nesmith Lake
- Summit Lake
