The Shenandoah River continues a long struggle against pollution
By Thomas Caldwell, Special to the Spirit
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Rivers crisscross the landscape on every continent. And like veins of blood, they carry the life force of nature, as well as the life force of human civilization in the form of transport, trade and commerce.
Everybody loves rivers, especially when they flow through their neighborhood. It’s hard to think of Jefferson County without thinking of the Shenandoah River. The ancient waterway originates in the mountains of north-central Virginia, where its North Fork is fed by the German River, springs and other sources. It eventually runs into the Potomac River at the Lower Town of Harpers Ferry, before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay and, eventually, the Atlantic Ocean.
According to archaeological records, humans have lived along the banks of the Shenandoah for nearly 12,000 years. The Native American tribes attributed god-like qualities to its waters and origins, as with rivers where humans traditionally went to drink, bathe, travel and harvest fish for sustenance. The Shenandoah has inspired songs, poetry and other art. Among the most famous is the John Denver classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which the state legislature made an official Mountain State song in 2014.
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