Tygarts Creek facts for kids
Tygarts Creek is a cool waterway, or creek, located in the northeastern part of Kentucky, a state in the United States. It flows through Carter and Greenup counties. This creek is a tributary of the mighty Ohio River, which means it's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one.
Tygarts Creek is about 88 miles (142 kilometers) long. It helps drain, or collect water from, an area of about 339.6 square miles (879.6 square kilometers). All the water from Tygarts Creek eventually joins the Ohio River, and then the Ohio River flows into the huge Mississippi River. So, Tygarts Creek is part of a very large watershed that covers much of the central United States!
The creek got its name from an early explorer of Kentucky, Michael Tygart.
Where Tygarts Creek Starts and Flows
Tygarts Creek begins in the southwestern part of Carter County. It forms when two smaller streams, called Upper Tygart Branch and Flat Fork, come together. A little further downstream, another important stream, Soldier Fork, joins Tygarts Creek.
Journey to the Ohio River
From its start, Tygarts Creek generally flows towards the north and northeast. As it travels, it passes by some interesting places:
- The town of Olive Hill
- The beautiful Carter Caves State Park
After flowing through Carter County, Tygarts Creek enters Greenup County. Finally, it empties into the Ohio River at the city of South Shore.
Water Flow of Tygarts Creek
Near the town of Greenup, Kentucky, scientists measure how much water flows in Tygarts Creek. On average, about 315 cubic feet of water flow past this point every second. That's like filling about three bathtubs with water every second! This measurement helps us understand the creek's health and how much water it carries.
