Cowanesque River

Cowanesque River
Cowanesque River near the Pennsylvania/New York border
Location of the mouth of the Cowanesque River in New York State.
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania, New York
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationNear Ulysses, Potter County, Pennsylvania
  coordinates41°55′33″N 77°43′43″W / 41.92583°N 77.72861°W / 41.92583; -77.72861
MouthTioga River
  location
Near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, Steuben County, New York
  coordinates
42°00′05″N 77°06′58″W / 42.00139°N 77.11611°W / 42.00139; -77.11611
Length41.4 mi (66.6 km)

The Cowanesque River is a 41.4-mile-long (66.6 km) tributary of the Tioga River in Potter and Tioga counties, Pennsylvania, and Steuben County, New York, in the United States. It joins the Tioga River soon after crossing from Pennsylvania into New York, near the borough of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.

The name of the Cowanesque River is of Native American origin, derived either from Go-wan-is-que ("briary or thorn bushy"), or from Ka-hwe-nes-ka ("on the long island").

In Tioga County, the Cowanesque Dam was constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1980. The dam created Cowanesque Lake, which helps prevent flooding within the valley. The 1,085-acre (4.39 km2) lake also facilitates various forms of recreation; the Tompkins Recreation Area and Campground is located along the lake's north shore, and the south shore hosts two day-use areas.