Great Pee Dee
Great Pee Dee is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- 34.88°, -79.88°
About Great Pee Dee
The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in the Carolinas of the United States. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course, above the mouth of the Uwharrie River, is known as the Yadkin River. The river empties into Winyah Bay, and then into the Atlantic Ocean near Georgetown.
The northeastern counties of South Carolina compose the Pee Dee region of the state.
The exposed rock formations along its course are the source of a NIST reference standard.
It is an important source of electric power and public water supplies, as well as recreational use.
While the Pee Dee is free-flowing in South Carolina, upstream in North Carolina, several dams have been constructed on it. The opening and closing of these dams causes dramatic swings in the depth of the river in South Carolina. The sharing of water between the two states has sometimes been a matter of controversy, particularly during periods of drought.
Some commercial fishing is done during the winter shad run, and for shrimp in the lower reaches. The river is excellent for recreational fishing and boating.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Pee Dee River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Great Pee Dee in Depth
History
The river flows through the territory of the historic Pee Dee tribe, and is named after them. The Pee Dee were a part of the South Appalachian Mississippian culture. The first Europeans believed to have possibly navigated part of the river was a party sent by Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1521.
Snow's Island is a large island at the Pee Dee and Lynches rivers junction. It has been identified as the center of Johnsonville Impact Crater. The island was the headquarters of General Francis Marion for several months during the American Revolution. It proved a haven for him and his militia troops, as the British were unable to find the camp until it was abandoned.
The world's largest lumber company existed at the turn of the 20th century near the river's mouth at Georgetown.
Tributaries
Some tributaries are the Lumber, the Little Pee Dee, Lynches, Black and Waccamaw rivers.
The river was an important trade route through the Low Country from colonial times. It is navigable from the Atlantic up to the Fall Line at Cheraw.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Pee Dee River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Great Pee Dee: Key Facts
| Length | 375 km |
|---|---|
| Drainage basin | 18,702 km² |
| Source | Yadkin River |
| Mouth | Winyah Bay |
| Drainage system | Pee Dee River drainage basin |
| Tributaries | Black River, Yadkin River, Jeffries Creek, Little Pee Dee River, Lynches River, Rocky River, Uwharrie River |
Facts from Wikidata Q2061230 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Great Pee Dee: Quick Answers
- Where is Great Pee Dee?
- Great Pee Dee is located in United States, at 34.8790° N, 79.8760° W.
- Are there dams on the Great Pee Dee?
- No dam on the Great Pee Dee is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.