Ark (river boat)

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An ark was a temporary boat used for river transport in eastern North America before canals and railroads made them obsolete. Arks were built primarily to carry cargo downriver on the spring freshet to carry lumber or logs and agricultural produce to a port city downriver. Upon arrival, the cargo was sold, the ark was dismantled and its lumber was also sold, and the ark pilots returned home on foot or horseback. Some arks in the Susquehanna River system were up to 75 feet long.

The village of Arkport, New York derives its name from this type of transport.