- Pymatuning State Park (Pennsylvania)
Geobox Protected Area
name = Pymatuning State Park
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III
image_caption =
etymology_type =
etymology =
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Crawford
district_type = Townships
district = Conneaut
district1 = North Shenango
district2 = Pine
district3 = Sadsbury
district4 = South Shenango
district5 = West Fallowfield
district6 = West Shenango
city =
location =
lat_d = 41
lat_m = 37
lat_s = 01
lat_NS = N
long_d = 80
long_m = 23
long_s = 59
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web | url=Gnis3|1199345 | title=Pymatuning State Park | date =August 2 1979 | work=Geographic Names Information System | publisher=United States Geological Survey | accessdate=2007-12-23]
elevation_imperial = 1010
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 21122
area_note =
area_round = 1
area1_imperial =
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lowest =
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biome =
biome_share =
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geology =
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plant =
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animal =
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established_type =
established = 1934
established_note =
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
management_location =
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visitation =
visitation_year =
free_type = Nearest city
free =Meadville, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
free1 =
map_caption = Location of Pymatuning State Park in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map_first = yes
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/pymatuning.aspx Pymatuning State Park]Pymatuning State Park is Pennsylvania state park covering convert|21122|acre|km2|2 in Conneaut, North Shenango, Pine, Sadsbury, South Shenango, West Fallowfield and West Shenango Townships, Crawford County,
Pennsylvania , in the United States. Pymatuning State Park is the largest state park in Pennsylvania and contains the convert|17088|acre|km2|2 ofPymatuning Lake , three-quarters of which is in Pennsylvania and one-quarter of which is inOhio . A three-milecauseway extends between Pennsylvania and Ohio near the center of the lake. The lake provides fishing and boating year round. There are two natural areas, Clark Island (convert|161|acre|km2|2) and Blackjack (convert|725|acre|km2|2) in the park. Like allPennsylvania state parks , admission to the Pymatuning State Park is free. The northern access for Pymatuning State Park can be reached fromU.S. Route 6 and the southern access is reached fromU.S. Route 322 .Pymatuning State Park is one of twenty-one chosen by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks for its "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" list. [cite web| url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/twenty/20parks.aspx | title = Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks | accessdate = 2007-08-08| publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources "Note: Despite the title, there are twenty-one parks in the list, with Colton Point and
Leonard Harrison State Park s treated as one."]History
Native Americans
Pymatuning State Park is on land that was once a very large
swamp . The first known inhabitants were the Mound Builders. Two of their mounds were flooded over by the creation of Pymatuning Lake. TheLenape were living in the area when European settlers fist came to the area. The lake is named for the chief, who lived in the area at the time, Pihmtomink. The Lenape were pushed out of the area by the Seneca tribe a member of the largerIroquois Confederacy . The Seneca were defeated byGeneral Anthony Wayne 's forces during theNorthwest Indian War and left the area under the terms of theTreaty of Greenville . This treaty marked the beginning of the white man's domination of the area.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/resource/res2005/05-0830-pymatuningsp.aspx
title = Park Spotlight: Pymatuning State Park
accessdate = 2007-01-20
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]From swamplands to parklands
The first settlers to the area were
farmer s. Life was not easy for the farmers. The land was very swampy and very difficult to reclaim. Farm animals that wandered off were often lost in thequicksand s of the swamp or fellprey topredator s likefox es, bears andmountain lion s. The swamps were infested withmosquito es that broughtyellow fever to the settlers.Building a dam on the
Shenango River was first explored in 1911. A massive in 1913 caused $3 million in damage and took several lives. ThePennsylvania General Assembly approved a budget of $1.2 million to build at dam across the Shenango, butGovernor John K. Tener slashed the budget to just $100,000. The legislature took action again in 1917. This time approving a $400,000 budget under the condition that the needed land inOhio be purchased by the private sector. The Pymatuning Land Company was formed and raised the needed funds to purchase the needed Ohio properties. The land was finally acquired in full by 1931 whenGovernor Gifford Pinchot approved $1.5 million to complete the dam. 7,000 men began work on the dam in 1931, and the project was completed in 1934. The final cost of building the dam was $3,717,739; and the lake now holds 64,275,000,000gallon s of water, covering convert|17088|acre|km2|2 over a length of 17 miles with a width of 1.6 miles at the widest and 70 miles of shoreline with a maximum depth of 35 feet.Pymatuning Lake
Pymatuning Lake was formed in the 1930s by a
dam on theShenango River , the lake features multiple beaches and camping areas in both states. The northeastern part of Pymatuning Lake, east of the spillway and three miles south of Linesville, is a protected gameland where colonies of 20,000 Canada Geese and many more ducks winter each year. The lake is the result of an earth dam three miles north ofJamestown, Pennsylvania , whose outflow forms the Shenango River. A north-southspillway crosses the northern part of the lake, with the gameland on the east side.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/pymatuning.aspx
title = Pymatuning State Park
accessdate = 2007-01-07
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]Along this spillway are a
wildlife museum and the Linesville spillway, a site famous as "The Place Where the Ducks Walk on the Fishes' Backs". In warm weather, many people throw bread into the water here, and the resulting density of fish (carp ) causesduck s and otherwaterfowl to walk over the carp and vie for the thrown food. The spillway was renovated in 2007. Beginning in 2009 visitors will be prohibited from feeding bread to the carp and ducks. Commercial fish food will be permitted. This change is taking place as part of an effort to clean up the area and increase its wild nature. [cite web | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08186/894854-100.stm | title = No more feeding bread to fish at Pymatuning | accessdate = 2008-07-04 | publisher = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]Boating
Motorboats up to 20
horsepower are permitted on Pymatuning Lake. All boats must have a current registration with any state or a launch permit from thePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission . There are threemarina s in the Pennsylvania owned part of the lake. These marinas have mooring facilities and rentpontoon boat s,rowboat s, motorboats,canoe s, and motors. They also have stores that sell bait, tackle and snacks.Fishing
Pymatuning State Park is open for year round fishing on Pymatuning Lake. It is a warm water fishery. The most common species are largemouth and
smallmouth bass ,walleye ,bluegill ,crappie ,perch ,carp , andmuskellunge . The lake is a popularice fishing destination during the winter months. All anglers are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the fish commission. Licenses from Ohio and Pennsylvania are permitted if the fishermen are fishing from a boat in any section of the lake. Only Pennsylvania licensed fishermen can fish from the Pennsylvania shore and only Ohio licensed fishermen are permitted to fish from the Ohio shore.One of the largest warm water fish hatcheries in the world is owned and operated by the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at Pymatuning State Park.wimming
There are four
beach es that are open to the public at Pymatuning State Park. All four are open from 8:00 a.m. until sunset set beginning in late-May and ending mid-September.Lifeguards are not posted at the beach. Swim at your own risk. The beaches do have bathhouses with restrooms.Wildlife
Pymatuning State Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Bald eagle s make their nests in the trees on the shores of Pymatuning Lake. Migratory waterfowl and resident waterfowl thrive in the waters of the lake. The Pennsylvania Game Commission operates a waterfowl museum at the park. The land surrounding the lake is ideal habitat for white tailed deer and other woodland animals..Hunting
Hunting is permitted on about convert|10300|acre|km2|2 of Pymatuning State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the
Pennsylvania Game Commission . The common game species are squirrels,waterfowl ,white-tailed deer , and rabbits. The hunting ofgroundhog s is prohibited. Special areas of the lake are set aside for waterfowl hunting.taying overnight
Pymatuning State Park is open for overnight guests beginning in mid-April and ending in late-October. There are three camping areas at the park. All three are near the lake and have a sanitary dumping station. Linesville Campground is in the northern part of the park. It has modern facilities including modern bathhouses with flush toilets and hot showers. Tuttle Campground is centrally located and also has modern amenities as does Jamestown Campground in the southern section of the park. Tuttle and Jamestown campgrounds are within walking distances of small stores that sell a variety of camping supplies and groceries. Laundry facilities are located at each of the stores.
There are twenty modern cabins available to rent at Pymatuning State Park. Each cabin has a furnished living area, a kitchen and dining area, restrooms, and two or three bedrooms. Bed linens, towels, tableware and cookware are not provided.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|km|0 of Pymatuning State Park: [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/crawford_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Crawford County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Pymatuning State Park "] [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/maps/pymatuning_mini.pdf| title = Map of Pymatuning State Park
accessdate = 2007-01-07
publisher =Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation
publisher =Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-23]
*Erie Bluffs State Park (Erie County)
*Maurice K. Goddard State Park (Mercer County)
*Mosquito Lake State Park (Ohio )
*Pymatuning State Park (Ohio)References
External links
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