Chesapeake is south of Norfolk, west of Virginia Beach and east of Portsmouth and appears to be the most land-locked of all the cities in Hampton Roads. It adjoins Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
One of its most interesting attractions is the
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. While many may find the swamp an unappealing environment, this particular locale was a haven for slaves seeking personal freedom via the Underground Railroad. For some it was a place of hiding, to others it meant job opportunities, allowing them to save money for boat passage to northern cities.
Chesapeake has the unique distinction of having two Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway routes. This protected inland water “road” for boaters connects Norfolk with Miami, Fla. The
Dismal Swamp Canal follows the eastern edge of the swamp and U.S. Highway 17. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this is the oldest operating artificial waterway in the U.S. At the northern end is Deep Creek Lock Park with the corps’
Deep Creek Lock (a great place to watch pleasure boat traffic) and at the southern end in North Carolina is the South Mills Lock.
The
Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal begins at
Great Bridge Lock, just below Interstate 64 (I-64) and west of Interstate 464 (I-464). Here, watercraft tends to be more commercial than leisure. The route flows easterly until it enters the North Landing River.
The flat 8.5-mile
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail offers bikers, hikers, walkers, joggers and paddlers a chance to get out and enjoy nature.
