Yadkin River
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The Yadkin River is one of the largest rivers in North Carolina. It begins in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river is renamed the Pee Dee River below the confluence of the Uwharrie River. The river flows into South Carolina near Cheraw, which is at the fall line.
In the upper regions of the river, Moravian settlers from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania began the Wachovia colony in 1753. Between then and the Revolutionary War thousands of settlers came from Pennsylvania. They were of mostly German and Scotch-Irish background.
The river is extensively used for recreation. Fishing consists mostly of sunfish, catfish, largemouth bass and white bass in the spring and early summer. Canoeing and rafting are also possible. A portion of the river flows thru Pilot Mountain State Park. Morrow Mountain State Park and the Uwharrie National Forest are along the banks of the river where the river's name changes to the Pee Dee River.
Many of the dams on the river create large reservoirs. Some of them are (from upstream to downstream) the W Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, and Badin Lake.
Water supplies for many communities in North and South Carolina are taken from the Yadkin-Pee Dee and during drought years the division of the water is a contentious issue.
Yadkin County, North Carolina is named after the river.