Dismal Swamp Canal, Historic canal in Chesapeake and Camden County, United States
The Dismal Swamp Canal extends 22 miles between Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Chesapeake Bay to Albemarle Sound through inland waterways.
Construction of the canal began in 1793 under the supervision of the Dismal Swamp Canal Company, with workers completing the excavation entirely by hand.
The canal network provided escape routes for people seeking freedom, leading to its recognition in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains the waterway, which accommodates approximately 2,000 recreational vessels annually through its lock system.
The Dismal Swamp Canal holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating artificial waterway in the United States since 1805.
Location: Chesapeake
Location: Camden County
Official opening: 1805
Part of: Intracoastal Waterway
GPS coordinates: 36.55670,-76.38060
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:23
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