Passage Creek

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Passage Creek
Passage Creek Virginia.jpg
Passage Creek in early spring
Country United States
State Virginia
Counties Shenandoah, Warren, Page
Source
 - locationWest of Luray, Page County
 - coordinates 38°39′51″N78°35′45″W / 38.66417°N 78.59583°W / 38.66417; -78.59583   [1]
Mouth North Fork Shenandoah River
 - locationEast of Strasburg, Warren County
 - coordinates 38°58′36″N78°16′12″W / 38.97667°N 78.27000°W / 38.97667; -78.27000 Coordinates: 38°58′36″N78°16′12″W / 38.97667°N 78.27000°W / 38.97667; -78.27000   [1]
Length38.5 mi (62 km) [2]
USA Virginia location map.svg
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Location of the mouth of the Passage Creek in Virginia
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Passage Creek (the US)

Passage Creek is a 38.5-mile-long (62.0 km) [2] tributary stream of the North Fork Shenandoah River in Fort Valley, Virginia. For most of its length it flows through a rural valley between the two spine-like ridges of Massanutten Mountain, then exits the valley by cutting a narrow gorge through the northeast end of the mountain.

Tributary stream or river that flows into a main stem river or lake

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater, leading the water out into an ocean.

Stream A body of surface water flowing down a channel

A stream is a body of water with surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. The stream encompasses surface and groundwater fluxes that respond to geological, geomorphological, hydrological and biotic controls.

Virginia State of the United States of America

Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States located between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" due to its status as the first English colonial possession established in mainland North America and "Mother of Presidents" because eight U.S. presidents were born there, more than any other state. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's estimated population as of 2018 is over 8.5 million.

Contents

Recreation

Passage Creek passes through the George Washington National Forest, managed by the United States Forest Service. It is annually stocked with trout by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. [3] The stream runs along Fort Valley Road, and is accessible at the Elizabeth Furnace recreation area. [4]

United States Forest Service federal forest and grassland administrators

The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres (780,000 km2). Major divisions of the agency include the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Business Operations, and the Research and Development branch. Managing approximately 25% of federal lands, it is the only major national land agency that is outside the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, or VDGIF, regulates fish and wildlife in Virginia. It is managed by the Director of Game and Inland Fisheries and overseen by the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Elizabeth Furnace

Elizabeth Furnace was a blast furnace in the Shenandoah Valley that was used to create pig iron from 1836 – 1888 using Passage Creek for water power. Iron ore was mined nearby, purified in the furnace, and then pig iron was transported over the Massanutten Mountain to the South Fork of the Shenandoah River for forging in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The road used to transport this iron is still used today by hikers climbing to the top of the Massanutten Mountain via the Massanutten Trail. Much of the original stone structure still exists, as well as a restored cabin, and an outdoor recreation area.

See also

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Whitetop Mountain (conservation area)

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London Bridge Branch Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

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References

  1. 1 2 "Passage Creek". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed August 15, 2011
  3. ↑ "Trout Area Map 1" (PDF). Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  4. ↑ US Forest Service - Elizabeth Furnace recreation area page


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