Pee Dee River
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Pee Dee River Great Pee Dee River |
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 Catchment area of the Pee Dee River |
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| Data | ||
| Water code | US : 1251573 , US : 1228058 | |
| location | North and South Carolina , United States | |
| River system | Pee Dee River | |
| origin | The confluence of the Yadkin and Uwharrie Rivers in North Carolina 35 ° 22 ′ 51 ″ N , 80 ° 3 ′ 29 ″ W |
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| muzzle | in Winyah Bay of the Atlantic near Georgetown Coordinates: 33 ° 21 ′ 42 " N , 79 ° 15 ′ 12" W 33 ° 21 ′ 42 " N , 79 ° 15 ′ 12" W
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| Left tributaries | Little Pee Dee River , Waccamaw River | |
| Right tributaries | Rocky River , Lynches River , Black River | |
| Navigable | below Cheraw , South Carolina | |
 Fishing on the Pee Dee River in Yauhannah, South Carolina |
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The Pee Dee River or Great Pee Dee River is a river in the United States . It has its origin in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina , where its upper reaches above the confluence of the Uwharrie River is known as the Yadkin River . The course of the river is largely accompanied by dams for flood control and the generation of hydropower . The name of the river is derived from the Indian tribe of the Pee Dee . The tribe and river also gave the name of the region called Pee Dee in the northeastern counties of South Carolina .
The river is navigable as far as the Fall Line in Cheraw, South Carolina and has been an important trade route from colonial times. One of the world's largest wood processing companies was located near the mouth of the river at Georgetown until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The pine forests along the river were felled and the logs floated down the river, where they were cut and shipped to the northern areas of the United States and Europe.
The flood plain on the lower reaches of the river was used intensively for the cultivation of rice until the middle of the 19th century . At that time, rice was one of the most important goods exported from Georgetown. After the Civil War , rice cultivation declined due to the end of slavery and increased competition. Two hurricanes at the beginning of the 20th century finally destroyed most of the irrigation canals and thus put an end to rice cultivation in the area.
Nowadays the river is no longer used intensively for shipping. However, it is still an important source for the generation of energy from hydropower and for the supply of drinking water , but it is also used for recreation and leisure. While the river in South Carolina can flow largely unhindered through dams, several dams exist on the upper reaches of North Carolina . The opening and closing of the flood gates causes large fluctuations in the flow of water, which has occasionally led to controversy between the two states about the distribution of water, particularly during dry spells. There is a small amount of commercial fishing for alosae and, on the lower reaches, for shrimp . The river is well suited for recreational fishing and boating, which is why there are numerous jetties. Most of the river, however, runs through pristine forests; Nyssa , oaks and Nyssa sylvatica mainly grow along the bank . Herons and alligators are widespread along the river, and bald eagles are occasionally seen .
The section of the river below US Highway 378 to Winyah Bay is designated as a Scenic River .
Tributaries include the Lumber River , Little Pee Dee River , Lynches River , Black River, and Waccamaw River . The river empties into Winyah Bay and thus into the Atlantic Ocean .
Snow Island is a larger island at the mouth of the Lynches River. During the War of Independence, it was the headquarters of General Francis Marion . The island gave him and his militia a safe haven, as his camp was not found by the British .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Designated Scenic Rivers . South Carolina Department of Nature and Resources. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
