Did You Know The Cuyahoga River Is One Of The Most Unique Rivers In Ohio?
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 30, 2024
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
I love regaling my kids with fun facts about Ohio, and I’m always on the hunt for new Buckeye State trivia to share. In my endless quest for knowledge, I discovered a unique trivia tidbit that blew my mind. In Northern Ohio, the Cuyahoga River is known for many things: its ties to our national park, infamously catching on fire in 1969, and, its unique U shape. Let’s learn all the unique facts about the Cuyahoga River in Ohio, shall we?
The Cuyahoga River is famous -- and infamous -- here in Ohio.
The body of water is most famous for catching on fire throughout the 20th century, with the disaster on June 22, 1969, the final straw in a series of fires that plagued the river for decades.
When the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, it was such a common occurrence that nobody even photographed it. In fact, the increase of factories and industrial activity along the river in the 1800s led to extreme pollution that consequently set it ablaze at least 13 times.
After the 1969 fire, an exposé published by "Time Magazine" served as a call to action, not only putting in place actions that would stop the fires, but also fueling movements that ultimately led to the passage of the National Environment Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Today, the Cuyahoga River is an environmental success story, National Heritage River, and beloved Ohio icon. It has been a transportation route, a boundary, a birthplace for myriad industries, and a power source. It's also known for its unique "U" shape which allows the waters to flow both north and south.
The 100-mile Cuyahoga River flows these two polar opposite directions before emptying into Lake Erie at Cleveland, Ohio. Its serpentine shape reflects the river’s geologic history. As melting glaciers retreated from the last Ice Age, their waters tried to find their way to Lake Erie.
The final glacial retreat, which occurred 10,000–12,000 years ago, caused changes in the drainage pattern near Akron. This change in pattern caused the originally south-flowing Cuyahoga to, curiously, flow to the north.
The river has rural beginnings in Geauga County, yet its lower river basin is one of the most densely populated and industrialized urban areas in North America.
Whether it’s through hiking, kayaking, or simply taking in a nice view at the end of a long day, there are so many ways to enjoy this iconoclastic Ohio river.
