THE ROANOKE RIVER CANAL

THE ROANOKE RIVER CANAL WAS BUILT ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO. THE CANAL IS ABOUT 9 MILES LONG. IT STARTS AT THE WILDLIFE RAMP IN WELDON NORTH CAROLINA AND FOLLOWS THE RIVER UPSTREAM TO THE PRESENT SITE OF THE ROANOKE RAPIDS DAM. THE AQUADUCT OVER CHOCKOYOTTE CREEK IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF EUROPEAN STONE MANSONRY. THE SITE HAS BEEN MADE INTO A PARK WITH MANY HIKING TRAILS. IF YOU LIKE HIKING AND HISTORY YOU CAN COMBINE BOTH INTERESTS HERE. THERE IS A LOT OF WILDLIFE IN THE AREA ALSO. THE ROANOKE RIVER WAS AN IMPORTANT TRADE ROUTE 2OO YEARS AGO. HOWEVER THE FALLS ON THE RIVER STOPPED ALL INCOMING BOATS AT WELDON. FROM HERE THE GOODS HAD TO PORTAGED 9 MILES UPRIVER ON LAND. THE CANAL WAS BUILT SO THE BOATS COULD BYPASS THE FALLS. THE CANAL FELL INTO DISUSE WITH THE ADVENT OF THE RAILROAD. BUT LUCKY FOR US IT IS STILL MOSTLY INTACT TODAY. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANAL AND THE ROANOKE RIVER YOU CAN EMAIL ME TO ORDER MY BOOK TITLED RIVER OF DEATH, THE STORY OF THE ROANOKE RIVER. Aquaduct over Chockoyotte Creek




Wintertime at the canal




















The remains of an old electrical power plant that was built on the canal still stand today in Roanoke Rapids.





SOME PARTS OF THE CANAL HAVE BEEN RECLAIMED BY NATURE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO MEXICO TO SEE EXECLLENT RUINS. THEY CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACK YARD!










RETURN TO LINKS PAGE

RETURN TO HOME PAGE