Lackawanna River
The Lackawanna River is a 42-mile-long (68 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It flows through a region of the northern Pocono Mountains that was once a center of anthracite coal mining in the United States. It starts in north Wayne County, Pennsylvania and ends in east Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in Duryea, Pennsylvania. The lower reaches of the river flow through the urban areas of Scranton, which grew around its banks in the 19th century as an industrial center. Its name comes from a Lenape word meaning "stream that forks".
| Lackawanna River Gachanai, Hazirok L'chau-hanne, Lackawannok, Lechau-hanné, Lechau-hannek, Lechauwah-hannek. | |
|---|---|
Lackawanna River as seen from Coxton Road Bridge, looking towards the Lackawanna-Susquehanna confluence | |
The watersheds of the Lackawanna and Lackawaxen Rivers | |
| Etymology | Lenape word Lechauwa-hannek meaning "the river that forks" |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Counties | Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of east and west branch |
| • elevation | 1,341 ft (409 m) |
| 2nd source | |
| • location | East Branch: Bone Pond, Dunn Pond, Independent Lake, Lake Lorain |
| • elevation | East Branch: 1,572 ft (479 m) |
| 3rd source | |
| • location | West Branch: Fiddle Lake, Lewis Lake, Lake Lowe |
| • elevation | West Branch: 1,575 ft (480 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Susquehanna River (North Branch) |
• coordinates | 41°20′28″N 75°47′35″W |
• elevation | 540 ft (160 m) |
| Length | 42 mi (68 km) |
| Basin size | 350 sq mi (910 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Roaring Brook |
The river rises in two branches, the West and East branches, along the boundary between Susquehanna and Wayne counties. The branches, each about 12 miles (19 km) long, flow south, closely parallel to each other, and join at the Stillwater Lake reservoir in Union Dale. The combined river flows southwest past Forest City, Carbondale, Mayfield, Jermyn, Archbald, Jessup, Blakely, Olyphant, Dickson City, Throop, Scranton, Taylor, Moosic, Old Forge, and Duryea. It joins the Susquehanna River at the northern boundary of Pittston about 8 miles (13 km) west-southwest of Scranton. As part of the Susquehanna River, it ultimately flows to Chesapeake Bay.
By the mid-20th century, the river was severely polluted from mine drainages in its watershed. The decline of industry in the region, as well as federal, state, and private efforts, have improved the water quality. Still, the Lackawanna River is the largest point source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. The upper reaches of the river are a popular destination for fly fishing of trout. It was designated as an American Heritage River in 1997.