Portage River (Ohio)

BW

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Portage River is a tributary of Lake Erie on the south bank in the northwestern U.S. state of Ohio. The Portage River drains together with its tributaries total of 1559 km ², located in the catchment area of Lake Erie. The main stream is formed at New Rochester, Wood County by the confluence of Middle Branch and South Branch Portage River, flowing generally in a north-easterly direction and flows some 100 km at Port Clinton in Ottawa County in Lake Erie.

The source flux Middle Branch Portage River is formed by the confluence of Needles Creek and Bader Creek about 12 km southwest of the town of Bowling Green, Wood County (41 ° 15 ' 9 " N, 83 ° 44 ' 1" W41.2525517 - 83.7335465 ), flows to the northeast and ends at New Rochester in the Portage River. The second source river South Branch Portage River rises about 4 km south of the town of Arcadia in Hancock County ( 41 ° 4 ' 19 " N, 83 ° 31' 5" W41.0719981 - 83.5179836 ) and flows generally north to the confluence with the Middle Branch.

The name " Portage" probably comes from the first visitors of the river, the were forced due to the numerous shoals and rapids in the river, often carry their canoes and boats. The mouth of the river has changed at least twice in the last three centuries. Maps dating from 1754 show the mouth 30 km north-west near the present-day Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, while the river earlier 10km northeast culminated in today's West Harbor in Lake Erie.