Editing Portage Lakes

{{For|the singular, a number of different lakes or places|Portage Lake (disambiguation){{!}}Portage Lake}}

{{Infobox body of water
 |name = Portage Lakes
 |image = North Reservoir, Portage Lakes.jpg
 |caption = North Reservoir from Portage Lakes Drive
 |image_bathymetry = 
 |caption_bathymetry = 
 |location = [[Summit County, Ohio]]
 |coords = {{coord|41|0|23|N|81|31|26|W|region:US-OH_type:waterbody_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}<ref name="GNIS-PL"/>
 |lake_type = [[Reservoir|artificial]] and [[Kettle (landform)|natural]]
 |inflow = 
 |outflow = [[Cuyahoga River]] and [[Tuscarawas River]]
 |catchment = 
 |basin_countries = United States
 |length = 
 |width = 
 |area = 
 |depth = 
 |max-depth = 
 |volume = 
 |residence_time = 
 |shore = 
 |elevation = {{convert|1056|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="GNIS-PL">{{Gnis|1044704|Portage Lakes}}</ref>
 |islands = 
 |cities = 
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| pushpin_map             = Ohio#USA
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = Location of Portage Lakes in Ohio, USA.
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
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| website            = 
| reference            =
}}

The '''Portage Lakes''' are a group of glacial [[kettle lake]]s and reservoirs in Northeast [[Ohio]]. The name comes from an old [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] [[Portage|portage path]] that connected the [[Cuyahoga River]] flowing north to [[Lake Erie]] and the [[Tuscarawas River]], a tributary of the [[Muskingum River]], which flows south to the [[Ohio River]]. This proved advantageous for the Indians and early settlers as navigation from Lake Erie to the Ohio was possible with only an eight-mile portage. [[Portage Lakes State Park]] lies at one of the highest points of the state and on a major watershed divide in Ohio. Some water from the lakes reaches Lake Erie and some flows to the Ohio River.<ref name="plsp">[http://ohiodnr.com/?TabId=779 Portage Lakes State Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217085222/http://ohiodnr.com/?TabId=779 |date=2012-02-17 }}, Ohio State Parks, Ohio Department of Natural Resources</ref>

There is an unincorporated community named [[Portage Lakes, Ohio|Portage Lakes]] in [[Summit County, Ohio|Summit County]], near {{coord|41|00|26|N|081|31|37|W|region:US-OH_source:GNIS}} Elevation: {{convert|1053|ft|m}},<ref>{{Gnis|1058169|Portage Lakes, Ohio}}</ref> in the area.

The area became an important trading post for [[settler]]s and Indians. It was a recognized landmark during the [[War of 1812]], serving as a rendezvous point of American troops. The old Indian portage path was part of the ancient boundary between the [[Haudenosaunee|Six Nations]] and the Western Indians.<ref name="plsp"/>

The city of [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]] was laid out in 1825 and was first settled by [[Ireland|Irish]] laborers and others working on the [[Ohio and Erie Canal]]. Once the canal was completed, the town flourished. Several important industries brought prosperity to the area including stoneware potteries, sewer pipe manufacturing, the [[match]] industry and, most recently, the [[tire]] and [[rubber]] industry. At one time, the Blue Diamond Match Company in Akron used {{convert|3|e6board feet|m3|spell=in}} of [[Eastern White Pine|white pine]] [[lumber]] per year for the manufacture of its matches.<ref name="plsp"/>

Several of the Portage Lakes were built as feeder [[reservoir (water)|reservoirs]] for the canals to maintain the required depth of {{convert|4|ft|m}}. The lakes were used for this purpose until the canals were abandoned in 1913. The lakes were then used to meet the water needs of the local industries. Some portions of the remnant canals in the Akron area can still be boated.<ref name="plsp"/>

The [[Ohio Department of Public Works]] maintained the canal lands for recreational purposes until 1949 when the Portage Lakes were transferred to the newly formed [[Ohio Department of Natural Resources]], Division of Parks and Recreation.<ref name="plsp"/>

==Watershed==
[[File:Nimisila Reservoir 2021.jpg|thumb|Nimisila Reservoir in Summit County, Ohio]]

===Lakes===
*East Reservoir
*West Reservoir
*Turkeyfoot Lake
*Rex Lake
*Mud Lake
*Nimisila Reservoir
*Miller Lake
*Dollar Lake
*Long Lake
*North Reservoir
*Grape Lake
*Hower Lake
*Nesmith Lake
*Summit Lake
{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/FishingSubhomePage/LakeMapLandingPage/PortageLakesFishingMap/tabid/19547/Default.aspx Ohio DNR fishing map of Portage Lakes]
*[http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/portagelakes Portage Lakes State Park website]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lakes of Ohio]]
[[Category:Portages in the United States]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Summit County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Kettle lakes in the United States]]