Where is Winyah Bay?
eastern South Carolina
Winyah Bay is a coastal estuary that is the confluence of the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee River, the Black River, and the Sampit River in Georgetown County, in eastern South Carolina. Its name comes from the Winyaw, who used to inhabit the region during the eighteenth century.
Is Winyah Bay saltwater?
Normal salinity levels in seawater are around 34 parts per thousand. Currently, throughout the length of Winyah Bay, salinity has dropped to at or near zero. Along with that drop in salinity, the dissolved oxygen in the water has fallen to be 2 milligrams per liter or less, putting at risk larger fish and marine life.
What type of estuary is Winyah Bay?
brackish-water estuary
In contrast, Winyah Bay is a brackish-water estuary that drains four major rivers and the third largest watershed on the East Coast, and is greatly influenced by forestry and other human activities.
How wide is Winyah Bay?
Be- low Winyah Bay they average from 2 to 3 miles wide, while north of the bay they begin wide, but point out at North Inlet and on north to the Horry County line they are much narrower. Farther inland are a number of slightly depressed areas through the uplands, which for the most part are known as bays and savannas.
Are there alligators in Winyah Bay?
Down here in the sucking mud and high humidity are the swarms of mosquitoes and yellow fly, the feral boar, the alligator and turtles and other life which thrive in a soggy land.
What rivers flow into Winyah Bay?
Four blackwater rivers—the Waccamaw, Pee Dee, Black, and Sampit—feed into Winyah Bay, an estuary in eastern South Carolina. All of them flow through swamps, wetlands, and forests that are rich with decaying vegetation and other organic matter.
How do you pronounce Winyah Bay?
A letter from a reader states that residents of Winyah Bay often hear their town called “WIN • yah,” but “natives of this great city say WIN • yaw.” The following was submitted by Bob Cooper Manning, Jr.
Can you swim in Winyah Bay?
Swimming is allowed here in the ocean and in the creek, but it is advisable to stay well away from the far south end because of the dangerous tidal currents. Located very close to the historic Hopsewee Plantation, this boat landing provides accesss to the North Santee River.
Where do alligators live in SC?
Alligators are restricted to the Coastal Plain, which includes the Central Savannah River Area of Georgia and South Carolina. In South Carolina, alligators have been recorded to reach lengths of more than 13 feet. Alligators live in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds.
Can you swim in the Pee Dee River?
The landing provides a boat ramp, courtesy dock and parking area, and the area is a popular destination for sunning, swimming, and wading in the river.
Does the Pee Dee River have alligators?
FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) You can find some of the biggest alligators in the US in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. “They’re in the water; the Pee Dee River is full of alligators, and Jeffries Creek that runs up through the middle of Florence has alligators in it,” said Dennis Matherly.