Youghiogheny River Lake and Youghiogheny Dam

The Youghiogheny River Lake and the Youghiogheny Dam is a great little place to spend a day. If you have a boat even better.

The views are beautiful and on a hot day a little beach with swimming available.

There are also a few picnic areas.

The dam has a great view from the beach.

The top of the dam has a wonderful view of the River below.

The other side of the dam is nice to look at as well.

The dam is just one parking area for the Youghiogheny River. The river has lots of other areas with other recreational stops.

Brief History

The Youghiogheny River Lake was a flood control reservoir. It is located in both Pennsylvania and Maryland. But the Youghiogheny Dam is in Pennsylvania.

Over the years, the Youghiogheny River has become a significant tourist attraction. The lake was formed in 1944 when the United States Army Corps of Engineers created the Youghiogheny Dam.

The Youghiogheny Dam is an earthen structure which is 184 feet high and 1,610 feet long. The reservoir surface is about 4.4 square miles with the maximum capacity of 300,000 acre feet but is keep at less then half of that. The dam controls flooding plus creates over 8,000 homes with hydroelectricity power.

In order to build the dam, the town of Somerfield was cover under the reservoir. In addition, the Great Crossing Bridge which was used by the National Road and dedicated on July 4, 1818 was also under the water. Presdient James Monroe was at the dedication.