A.W. Marion State Park

A.W. Marion State Park is located near Circleville, Ohio. It's centered around Hargus Lake. There are convert|5|mi|km of hiking trails in gently rolling hills.

The Geography and History of the Area

A.W. SP is in the till plain of eastern Ohio. The till plain is flatt or rolling hills that has very ferile soil. It comes from the glaciers that covered America over 10,000 years ago. The Hargus Creek goes through the center of the park.The Adena settled here 2,000 years ago because of the fertile soil. In 1948, the Division of Parks and Recreation dammed up the Hargus Creek with an earthin dam. In 1962, the park was renamed the A.W. Marion State Park in honor of the first director of the Department of Natural Resources, who was a Pickaway County native.

Trails

There are a total of five miles (8 km) of trails that go all around the lake.

Wildlife

Wildlife indigenous to the area includes fox squirrel, ring-necked pheasant, a variety of songbirds, a variety of waterfowl including mallards and the occasional loon, great blue herons, black racers (a kind of snake), red fox, and white-tailed deer.

Boating and Fishing

Boats with electric moters and rowing boats are only allowed on the lake. There is convert|145|acre|km2 of water. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, muskellunge, bluegill and channel catfish.

References

* [http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/tabid/712/Default.aspx State Park page]