Jeremiah's Gutter, Historic canal in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, US
Jeremiah's Gutter is a historic canal on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, linking Cape Cod Bay to the Atlantic Ocean across the narrow neck of the peninsula. It was cut from a natural passage in the land, giving boats a shortcut that saved them from sailing all the way around the tip of the cape.
A storm in 1717 broke through Jeremiah Smith's land, creating a natural channel between the two bodies of water. Over time, the passage was widened and deepened to serve larger vessels, remaining in use for well over a century before falling out of regular service.
The name Jeremiah's Gutter comes from Jeremiah Smith, the landowner whose property was cut through by a storm. Walking along the old canal bed today, you get a sense of how early Cape Cod residents learned to read and use the land around them.
Traces of the old canal are visible from the Cape Cod Rail Trail, near the parking area off Rock Harbor Road. The path can be uneven and changes with the seasons, so sturdy footwear and a quick check of trail conditions before setting out are a good idea.
Jeremiah's Gutter is considered one of the oldest man-made waterways in North America that grew out of a natural storm break. The original 1717 breach was wide enough for small boats to pass through almost immediately, before any formal digging had even begun.
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