Diane Tennant is a heck of a writer. Excellent.
Ms. Tennant appears to have been provided some bad information, though. “Dirty Dancing” was filmed in large part on Lake Lure, in North Carolina. The Great Dismal Swamp lies largely in NC, too; there was a nasty legal row over water rights and interbasin transfer several years back. The Tidewater VA cities wanted more water, and NC didn’t want to allow it.
That “nasty” “peat stained” water was famous for being potable, due to the tannins. Many a ship at sea had exactly that water in their stores.
As far as mysterious, round natural lakes, the NC coastal plain is fairly dotted with them, as are several other states. They’re known as “Carolina Bays.” Theories as to their origin have focused upon prevailing winds, meteorites and fires in the typical peat bogs.
Too bad the article contained these oversights. She does write very well, very evocatively. Like being there.