Allegheny River, Major river in Pennsylvania, United States
The Allegheny is a river in western Pennsylvania and southwestern New York that runs about 325 miles (523 kilometers) through forested hill country. It flows southward and meets the Monongahela at Pittsburgh, where both rivers form the Ohio.
During the 17th century the river valley saw conflict between the Shawnee and Iroquois, both seeking control over this waterway. Later, locks and dams were built to ease navigation between Pittsburgh and the northern stretches.
The name comes from the Delaware word Alikehane, meaning river where traces remain visible along the banks. Today boaters explore the waterway and anglers try their luck from the shore or small piers.
The river can be reached at several shore points and boat launches, many located near towns along its course. Walking paths and cycling trails run beside sections of the water, offering views from the bank.
The Kinzua Dam was completed in 1965 and created the 24-mile (39-kilometer) Allegheny Reservoir, reshaping much of the original river landscape. The project led to Seneca Nation communities leaving their homelands and starting over elsewhere.
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