Vermilion River (Ohio)

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Vermilion River
The Vermilion River at the community of Birmingham in Erie County
The Vermilion River at the community of Birmingham in Erie County
Origin Bailey Lakes, Ohio
Mouth Lake Erie at Vermilion, Ohio
Basin countries United States
Length 59 mi (95 km)
Basin area 268 mi² (694 km²)
A marina on the Vermilion River at the city of Vermilion
A marina on the Vermilion River at the city of Vermilion

The Vermilion River is a river in northern Ohio in the United States. It is 59 mi (95 km) long[1] and is a tributary of Lake Erie, draining an area of 268 mi² (694 km²).[2] The name alludes to the reddish clay that is the predominant local soil along its route. The river is commonly muddy after rains.

A pleasure boat harbor is located along the river near its mouth at Lake Erie.[3]

Contents

[edit] Course

The Vermilion River flows from Mud Lake in the town of Bailey Lakes in Ashland County and follows a generally northward course through Huron, Erie and Lorain Counties, past the towns of Savannah and Wakeman. It enters Lake Erie in Erie County at the city of Vermilion.[4]

A short distance before the river enters Lake Erie, near State Route 2, it passes through a deep gorge. The Vermilion rest area along the northern (westbound) side of Route 2 features a short nature trail leading to an overview of the gorge.

Three short tributaries are known as branches or forks of the Vermilion River. The Southwest Branch Vermilion River[5] and the East Branch Vermilion River[6] join the Vermilion in Huron County. The East Fork Vermilion River[7] rises in Lorain County and joins the Vermilion in Erie County.[4]

[edit] Variant names

The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Vermilion River" as the stream's official name in 1899. According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Vermilion River has also been known as:[8]

  • Oulame Thepy
  • Vermillion River
  • River en Grys

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry
  2. ^ Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Map of Ohio watersheds
  3. ^ City of Vermilion Port Authority
  4. ^ a b DeLorme (1991). Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-233-1
  5. ^ USGS GNIS: Southwest Branch Vermilion River
  6. ^ USGS GNIS: East Branch Vermilion River
  7. ^ USGS GNIS: East Fork Vermilion River
  8. ^ USGS GNIS: Vermilion River