| Blue Mountain[2] | |
|---|---|
Kittatinny Mountain (and nine others:
| |
.jpg) The "Great Wall" of Blue Mountain inPennsylvania in February 2008 | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Clarks Knob inFranklin County, Pennsylvania 2,320 feet (710 m)[4] |
| Elevation | 1,129 ft (344 m)[2] |
| Coordinates | 40°07′28″N77°39′59″W / 40.12444°N 77.66639°W /40.12444; -77.66639 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 150 mi (240 km) northeast-southwest to SSW 150 miles (240 km) (direct aerial) 255 miles (410 km) trace of ridgeline, including loops back[5] width = varies along chain's length |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Borders on | |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Appalachian Mountains |
| Rock age | Silurian |
| Rock types | |
Blue Mountain,Blue Mountain Ridge, or theBlue Mountains of Pennsylvania, is a ridge of theAppalachian Mountains in easternPennsylvania. Forming the southern and eastern edge of theRidge-and-Valley Appalachians physiographic province in Pennsylvania, Blue Mountain extends 150 miles (240 km) from theDelaware Water Gap on the state's border withNew Jersey in eastern Pennsylvania to Big Gap inFranklin County in south-central Pennsylvania at its southwestern end.
Views of Blue Mountain dominate the southern tier of most eastern and central Pennsylvania counties, providing an ever-visible backdrop cutting across the northern or western horizon. Most transport corridors and road beds piercing the barrier necessarily pass through largewater gaps, including (west to east) theSusquehanna,Schuylkill,Lehigh andDelaware River valleys orwind gaps, low gaps in the ridge caused by ancient watercourses. Thebarrier ridge forms a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions.
To the south of theSusquehanna River gap in the south-central part of the state is theCumberland Valley, part of theGreat Appalachian Valley; to its northwest side are the southern reaches of theSusquehanna Valley with picturesque streams channeling travel corridors deep into and over the central and western mountains and valleys, the heartland interior counties of Pennsylvania alongMain Branch Susquehanna, the valleys lead to theCoal Region inNortheastern PennsylvaniaWyoming Valley, and the distantPocono Mountains. To the south of Blue Mountain is theCapital Region and the state's capital ofHarrisburg, the region's primary city, along with nearby communities in the rich farming regions ofLebanon Valley andPennsylvania Dutch Country ofYork andLancaster counties and the lower halves of both theLehigh Valley andDelaware Valley, both of which extend north through water gaps beyond the ridgeline.
Blue Mountain School District, which is named after the mountain range, is located just offPA Route 61 inSchuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania.
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The ridge of Blue Mountain runs for 150 miles (240 km) throughPennsylvania, reaching an elevation of 2,270 feet (690 m) above sea level just north of thePennsylvania Turnpike, near the borough ofNewburg. Most of the ridgecrest, however, only reaches between 1,400 and 1,700 feet (430 and 520 m) in elevation. The mountain's width varies from 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km).
The southwestern end of the mountain is at Big Gap, west ofShippensburg. The mountain ridge continues to the southwest towardMaryland as Broad Mountain. The northeastern end of the mountain is at theDelaware Water Gap on theNew Jersey border.Mount Minsi, elevation 1,461 feet (445 m), forms the promontory overlooking theDelaware River. The ridge of Blue Mountain continues northeast into New Jersey, reaching the state’s high point as 1,803 ft (549.6 m)Kittatinny Mountain.[6]
Blue Mountain marks the boundary between theGreat Appalachian Valley and the mainRidge-and-Valley Appalachians.
Four of Pennsylvania's major rivers cut through Blue Mountain inwater gaps:
ThePennsylvania Turnpike system passes through Blue Mountain at two points:
Blue Ridge Mountain 1169893 Summit Wyoming PA 413628N 0760535W 1171 Meshoppen - 02-AUG-1979
1193708 Name: Blue Mountain 40.1245315 -77.6663793 400728N 0773959W Roxbury
