Lake Drummond
Encyclopedia
Lake Drummond is located at the center of the Great Dismal Swamp
, a marshy region on the Coastal Plain
of southeastern Virginia
and northeastern North Carolina
between Norfolk, Virginia
, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina
in the United States
. Surface area of the lake is approximately 3142 acres (13 km²) and the maximum depth is six feet. Management of the lake is the responsibility the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
.
Scientists think the Great Dismal Swamp was created when the Continental shelf
made its last big shift. The whole swamp has peat
underneath. Several theories exist on the origin of Lake Drummond. People have argued the Lake was made by a big underground peat burn about 3,500 to 6,000 years ago. Native American
legend talks about "the fire bird" creating Lake Drummond.
Lake Drummond is one of only two natural freshwater lakes in Virginia. The other, Mountain Lake
in Giles County
is also of unknown origin. Curiously, both are lakes essentially on top of a hill. Lake Drummond is the highest point in the Dismal Swamp, with nine ditches flowing out of it.
The time of the Great Dismal Swamp's discovery is not known precisely but there is archaeological evidence which indicates human occupation began nearly 13,000 years ago. By 1650, few native Americans remained in the area, and European settlers showed little interest in the swamp. In 1665, William Drummond
, a future governor of North Carolina
, discovered the lake which now bears his name. Several centuries of exploitation and logging reduced the Swamp to about 50% of its original size. It was common practice for merchant ships of the time to fill up water casks with the dark-stained water from Lake Drummond. With its high tannin content, the water would remain fresher longer on trans-Atlantic
voyages.
Lake Drummond and much of the Great Dismal Swamp are within the bounds of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
, established in 1974. North Carolina established a state park to protect another portion.
Due to relatively low pH levels caused by the leaching of acidic materials from surrounding peat soils, the lake has a relatively low level of nutrients. A few species of fish are represented, including Crappie
and Bowfin
and Longnose gar
.
There is a story in "Grandfather Tales", a collection of tall tales from the region, called "Wicked John and the Devil" about a man who even the devil feared, who when he died was given a red hot coal by the Devil and told to go to the Great Dismal Swamps to make his own hell. According to the tail he can be seen wandering the swamp at night with his red hot coal.
Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Great Dismal Swamp
The Great Dismal Swamp is a marshy area on the Coastal Plain Region of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina between Norfolk, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina in the United States. It is located in parts of southern Chesapeake and Suffolk in Virginia, as well as northern...
, a marshy region on the Coastal Plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
of southeastern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and northeastern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Surface area of the lake is approximately 3142 acres (13 km²) and the maximum depth is six feet. Management of the lake is the responsibility the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
.
Scientists think the Great Dismal Swamp was created when the Continental shelf
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
made its last big shift. The whole swamp has peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
underneath. Several theories exist on the origin of Lake Drummond. People have argued the Lake was made by a big underground peat burn about 3,500 to 6,000 years ago. Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
legend talks about "the fire bird" creating Lake Drummond.
Lake Drummond is one of only two natural freshwater lakes in Virginia. The other, Mountain Lake
Mountain Lake (Virginia)
Mountain Lake is a freshwater lake located in Giles County near Newport, Virginia, in the United States. Along with Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp, it is one of only two natural lakes in Virginia...
in Giles County
Giles County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,657 people, 6,994 households, and 4,888 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 7,732 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
is also of unknown origin. Curiously, both are lakes essentially on top of a hill. Lake Drummond is the highest point in the Dismal Swamp, with nine ditches flowing out of it.
The time of the Great Dismal Swamp's discovery is not known precisely but there is archaeological evidence which indicates human occupation began nearly 13,000 years ago. By 1650, few native Americans remained in the area, and European settlers showed little interest in the swamp. In 1665, William Drummond
William Drummond
William Drummond or Bill Drummond is the name of:*William Drummond of Hawthornden , Scottish poet, influenced by Spenser; best known for illustrated essay, Cypresse Grove...
, a future governor of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, discovered the lake which now bears his name. Several centuries of exploitation and logging reduced the Swamp to about 50% of its original size. It was common practice for merchant ships of the time to fill up water casks with the dark-stained water from Lake Drummond. With its high tannin content, the water would remain fresher longer on trans-Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
voyages.
Lake Drummond and much of the Great Dismal Swamp are within the bounds of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1974 to help protect and preserve a portion of the Great Dismal Swamp, a marshy region on the Coastal Plain of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina between Norfolk, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina in the...
, established in 1974. North Carolina established a state park to protect another portion.
Due to relatively low pH levels caused by the leaching of acidic materials from surrounding peat soils, the lake has a relatively low level of nutrients. A few species of fish are represented, including Crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
and Bowfin
Bowfin
The Bowfin, Amia calva, is the last surviving member of the order Amiiformes , and of the family Amiidae...
and Longnose gar
Longnose gar
The longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, is a primitive ray-finned fish of the gar family. It is also known as the needlenose gar.- Description :...
.
Folklore
There is a folklore story "Phantom Lovers of Dismal Swamp" that is based entirely around this area.There is a story in "Grandfather Tales", a collection of tall tales from the region, called "Wicked John and the Devil" about a man who even the devil feared, who when he died was given a red hot coal by the Devil and told to go to the Great Dismal Swamps to make his own hell. According to the tail he can be seen wandering the swamp at night with his red hot coal.
External links
Satellite Picture by Google MapsDismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center