South Mountain (Maryland and Pennsylvania)
| South Mountain | |
|---|---|
Northward view of South Mountain in Maryland
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Quirauk Mountain |
| Elevation | 2,150 ft (660 m) |
| Coordinates | 39°41′46″N 77°30′47″W / 39.696°N 77.513°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 70 mi (110 km) |
| Width | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Geography | |
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| Country | United States |
| States | Maryland and Pennsylvania |
| Range coordinates | 39°43′N 77°29′W / 39.72°N 77.49°WCoordinates: 39°43′N 77°29′W / 39.72°N 77.49°W |
| Parent range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Grenville orogeny |
| Type of rock | Granite, gneiss and limestone |
South Mountain is the northern extension of the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Maryland and Pennsylvania. From the Potomac River near Knoxville, Maryland, in the south, to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, in the north, the 70-mile-long (110 km) range separates the Hagerstown and Cumberland valleys from the Piedmont regions of the two states. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail follows the crest of the mountain through Maryland and a portion of Pennsylvania.
South Mountain begins at the Potomac River as a low, narrow ridge, barely one mile wide and only 1,200 feet (370 m) above sea level at its crest. South of the Potomac River in Virginia, the ridge continues as Short Hill Mountain for about 12 miles (19 km) before subsiding near the town of Hillsboro. South Mountain in Maryland gradually grows higher and wider towards the north. Near the Pennsylvania border, the mountain merges with the hills of the parallel range to the east and becomes more like a low mountain range than a single crest. North of U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania, the South Mountain highlands reach their greatest width, over 12 miles (19 km), and several summits top 2,000 feet (610 m). The mountain then turns more to the east and becomes a series of small rocky hills between Mount Holly Springs and the northeastern end of the mountain at Dillsburg.
From south to north:
From south to north, then east:
From south to north:
From south to north:
From south to north:
From south to north:
In Pennsylvania, the region surrounding is the focus of a Conservation Landscape Initiative, led by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The initiative is organized as South Mountain Partnership, which involves other organizations, government, business, and community members.
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Wikipedia