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at the mouth of Penobscot Eiver, a distance of
20 miles N. from Owl's Head. This bay affords
many varieties of fish, contains many good har-
bors, and on its borders are many large and
flourishing towns.
Penobscot River, Me. This large and impor-
tant river, with its numerous and extensive
branches, waters a great portion of the state. It
pierces the county which bears its name, and
receives tributaries from Washington, Hancock,
Waldo, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties. Be-
low the union of the E. and W. branches, the
Piscataquis and Matawamkeag are its largest
tributaries. Prom the junction of the two branch-
es, or “the Forks," to tide water at Bangor, is
about 76 miles. The E. branch rises at the N.
in the Seboois Lakes, near Aroostook Eiver, and
on its passage to the junction, a distance of
about 50 miles, it is properly called Seboois
Eiver. The W. branch of the Penobscot rises
in the high lands on the border of Lower Canada
and the W. frontier of Me. It passes through
the counties of Somerset and Piscataquis in an
E. direction, to its junction with the E. branch,
receiving in its course the waters of Lakes Che-
suncook, Pemadumcook, Millinoket, and other
large collections of water. This branch passes
within 3 miles of the N. border of Moose Head
Lake, the source of Kennebec Eiver. The length
of this branch of the Penobscot, from its source
touts union with the E. branch or Seboois Eiver,
may be stated at about 140 miles, and the great-
est length of the river to Bangor, 215, and to the
ocean, 275 miles. Some of the most important
tributaries of this majestic river are noted under
their distinctive names. A description of them
all, with their hydraulic powers and boatable
capabilities, their rapid courses and beautiful
cataracts, their fertilizing qualities, and other
peculiarities, would fill a volume. Indeed, these
streams, and the immense basin which they drain,
are so little known, that some years must elapse
before any thing like a fair delineation of the
value and beauty of this interesting section of
New England can be given.
PensauJcie River, Brown co., Wn. A small
stream flowing in a N. of E. direction into Green
Bay, which it enters S. from Oconto Eiver.
Pensacola Bay, Fa., sets up from the Gulf of
Mexico, between Barancas Point and the W. end
of St. Eosa Island. The entrance to the bay,
between these points, is only about three fourths
of a mile wide, and is well defended by a fort on
Point Barancas. The bar has 22 feet of water at
low tide. Extending in a N. E. direction, the
bay has a length in some parts of 28'miles, and
an average width of about 3 miles. About 11
miles from its mouth, it divides into three parts,
called Escambia Bay, Yellow Water Bay, and
East Bay. Escambia Bay is on the W., and is so
called from the name of the river, which it re-
ceives from Florida. Yellow Water Bay also
receives the river of that name. East Bay,
which is 7 miles long, admits frigates of the
largest class to ride at anchor, and is en-
tirely protected from all winds. The city of
Pensacola is situated on the W. shore of the
principal bay, about 10 miles from the entrance
from the gulf. The harbor of Pensacola is good,
being the deepest haven on the N. coast of the
Gulf of Mexico. The country around this bay
is generally low and barren.
Peoria, Lake, Is. This lake, which is an ex-
30 |
pansion of Illinois Eiver, extends 20 miles in a
S. W. direction to Peoria village. It is much
wider than the river, has a gravelly bottom, and
very little current. It is divided by the Narrows
into two parts, and abounds with various kinds
of fish.
Pepacton River. See Delaware River.
Pepin Lake. An expansion of the Mississippi
Eiver, 1 mile below the junction of the St.
Croix, and 100 miles below St. Anthony's Falls.
It is 24 miles long, and from 2 to 4 miles wide.
Pequannock Creek, N. J., rises in the Walkill
and Wawayanda Mts., Sussex co., and flowing
S. E. and S. 27 miles, its rapid current affording
good water power, falls into the Passaic. It is
called Pompton Eiver below Pompton village.
Pequawkett River, N. H. This stream bears an
Indian name formerly applied to a tract of coun-
try now including Conway, N. H., Fryeburg, Me.,
and some of the adjacent towns. The river rises
in two-ponds in Eaton, and falls into the Saco.
Pequest Creek, N.J., is a large and rapid stream.
Its two head branches unite in Independence,
Warren co., and after a course of 30 miles it en-
ters the Delaware at Belvidere village.
Peqwonoc Creek, New London co., Ct. A small
stream emptying into Long Island Sound, be-
tween Mystic and Thames Eivers.
Perch Lake, N. Y., rises in Orleans, Jefferson
co., flows S. W. into the village of Dexter, where
it enter's Black Eiver.
Perdido River, Aa. and Fa., rises in Baldwin
co., Aa., and flowing S. 40 miles, enters the Gulf
of Mexico through a narrow and shallow bay.
Perkiomen River, Pa., rises in Upper Milford,
at the foot of South Mt., flows S. about 30 miles,
receiving a number of tributaries, which with the
main river afford good water power, and enters
the Schuylkill 6 miles above Norristown.
Perpetua, Cape, On. A small point of land
situated on the Pacific coast, N. N. E. from Cape
Gregory.
Perry's Peak, Bichmond, Ms. Height 2089 ft.
Peshtego River, Brown co., Wn. This large
river rises in the N. W. interior of the county,
flows S. E., receiving numerous branches, and
falls into Green Bay a little below the mouth of
Menomonee Eiver.
Peshakeme River, Mn. It rises in Michigamme
Lake, in the N. part of Marquette co., and flows
S. into the Wesacota or Brule Eiver.
Peterah River, Ma. A small stream emptying
into the Mississippi E. from Eum Eiver.
Petersburg Mountains, N! Y., are a range of not
very high hills extending S- from Washington,
through Eensselaer and a part of Columbia co.
Petite Jean Creek, As. A large stream rising
in the W. part of Scott co., and flowing a little
N. of E. into the Arkansas Eiver, which it enters
on the boundary between Perry and Yell counties.
Pey ox Elm River, Ma. A large stream flow-
ing S. E., and emptying into the Tchan Sansan,
or Eiver a Jaques, just below Tchanchicanah
Lake.
Pharaoh Lalce lies in the town of Schroon,
Essex co., N. Y.
Phelps Lake, N. C. A sheet of water lying in
the S. E. part of Washington co., and connected
by a creek with Albemarle Sound.
Philadelphia River, Vt. A small stream origi-
nating in the S. part of Goshen, and running
S. W. through Chittenden into Pittsford, where
it unites with East Creek. |
