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The Schuylkill River, most often ("SKOO-kull"), is a river in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvaniamarker. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.

The river is about 130 miles (209 km) long. Its watershed of about 2000 square miles (5,000 km²) lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvaniamarker. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountainsmarker at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaquamarker in Schuylkill Countymarker. The West Branch starts near Minersvillemarker and joins the eastern branch at the town of Schuylkill Havenmarker. The Tulpehocken Creek joins it at the western edge of Readingmarker. Wissahickon Creek joins it in northwest Philadelphiamarker. Other major tributaries include the Little Schuylkill River, Maiden Creek, Manatawny Creek, French Creek, and Perkiomen Creek. The Schuylkill joins the Delaware River, of which it is the largest tributary, at the site of the former Philadelphia Navy Yardmarker, now the Philadelphia Naval Business Center, just northeast of Philadelphia International Airportmarker.

Major towns



History and names

The Delaware Indians were the original settlers of the area around this river, which they called Ganshohawanee, meaning "rushing and roaring waters," or "Manaiunk". The river was later given the Dutch name Schuylkill ( ) by its European discoverer, Arendt Corssen of the Dutch West India Company. One explanation given for this name is that it translates to "hidden river" and refers to the river's confluence with the Delaware River at League Islandmarker, which was nearly hidden by dense vegetation. Another explanation is that the name properly translates to "hideout creek".

Thomas Paine tried in vain to interest the citizens in funding an iron bridge over this river, before abandoning "pontifical works" on account of the French revolution.





The restoration of the river was funded by money left for that purpose in Benjamin Franklin's will.

Points of interest



Transportation and recreation

Transportation

The Schuylkill river valley was an important thoroughfare in the eras of canals and railroads. The river itself, the Schuylkill Navigationmarker (canal), the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (later the Reading Railroad), and the Pennsylvania Railroad were vital shipping conduits from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century.

Rail freight still uses many of the same valley rights-of-way that the 19th-century railroads used. Passenger and commuter rail service is more limited. Today, the old railbed rights-of-way along the river between Philadelphia and Norristown contain SEPTA's R6 Norristown Regional Rail line (former Reading Railroad right-of-way) and the Schuylkill River Trail (former Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way).

There are efforts to extend both rail and trail farther upriver than they currently reach. The Schuylkill River Trail continues upriver from Norristown to Valley Forge, and designers plan to extend it for scores of miles farther upriver. SEPTA Regional Rail service currently does not go farther upriver than Norristown. Visions of commuter rail service farther up the Schuylkill valley ("Schuylkill Valley Metro") have yet to become reality.

Roads associated with the river include the Schuylkill Expressway, the West Shore Bypass (on the west bank), the Kelly Drivemarker (on the east bank, so also called the East River Drive), and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (on the west bank, so also called the West River Drive).

Recreation

The Schuylkill River Trail, which generally follows the river bank, is a multi-use trail for walking, jogging, bicycling, rollerblading, and other outdoor activities. The trail presently runs from Philadelphia, through Manayunkmarker to the village of Mont Claremarker, the latter are the locations of the last two remaining watered stretches of the Schuylkill Canalmarker. There is also a section of trail starting at Pottstownmarker and running upriver toward Reading. Plans are underway to complete the trail from the Delaware River to Reading.

The Schuylkill River is very popular with watersports enthusiasts. The Dad Vail Regatta, an annual rowing competition, is held on the river near Boathouse Rowmarker, as is the annual Bayada Regatta, featuring disabled rowers from all over the continent.



See also



References

  1. [1]


External links




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