US Geography: Mountain Ranges Mountain Ranges The three major mountain ranges of the US are the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada. Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains run for 1,500 miles along the east coast of the United States from northern Alabama to Maine. The highest point of the Appalachians is 6,684 feet at Mount Mitchell in North Carolina . The Appalachians are part of a temperate forest biome and are mostly covered with a variety of trees including pine trees, spruce, birch, and maple trees. Animals that can be found in the Appalachians include squirrels, cottontail rabbits, white-tailed deer, wolves, beavers, black bears, and the red-tailed hawk . The Appalachians played an important role in the early history of the United States. They served as a barrier to expansion for the first colonies. At one point, Britain made a deal with the Native American tribes that colonists would not settle beyond the Appalachian Mountains. However, people soon found passes through the mountains and blazed trails beyond the mountains such as Daniel Boone's Wilderness Trail.

Some of the smaller ranges within the Appalachians include the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Green Mountains, White Mountains, Longfellow Mountains, and the Berkshires. Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains form the longest mountain range in North America and the second longest range in the world. They stretch 3,000 miles north-to-south from New Mexico, across the United States to Montana, and well into Canada. The highest point of the Rockies is Mount Elbert in Colorado which rises 14,440 feet above sea level. The Continental Divide for North America is located along the Rocky Mountains. It is at this point that water flows either to the Atlantic Ocean in the east or to the Pacific Ocean in the west. The Rockies are known for their distinct seasons with warm, rainy summers and cold snowy winters. Much of the Rocky Mountains is covered with forests of spruces trees, pines, oaks, junipers, and firs. A wide variety of wildlife can be found in the Rockies including bighorn sheep, badgers, grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes, elk, bighorn sheep, and white-tailed deer.

Rocky Mountains Within the Rocky Mountains are several smaller ranges including the Big Horn Mountains, the Front Range, the Wasatch Mountains, and the Bitterroot Range. There are several national parks protecting areas of the Rockies such as Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Glacier National Park. The Rocky Mountains are considered fold mountains . This means that they were formed at a point where two of the Earth's tectonic plates meet. Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range runs north-to-south along the west coast of the United States mostly in the state of California and some in the state of Nevada. It is around 400 miles long and 70 miles wide. The highest point in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet, which is also the tallest mountain in the lower 48 United States. The largest trees in the world, the giant sequoia trees, live in the Sierra Nevada. They can grow up to 270 feet tall and over 25 feet in diameter. Some of these trees are believed to be over 3,000 years old. The Sierra Nevada is also home to Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are fault-block mountains, meaning they were formed along a fault in the Earth's crust. Other Ranges Adirondacks - The Adirondacks is a mountain range in northeast New York. The highest point is Mount Marcy at 5,344 feet. The Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the United States at over 6 million acres. Brooks Range - The Brooks Range stretches over 700 miles across northern Alaska. Its highest point is Mount Chamberlin at 9,020 feet. Cascade Range - The Cascade Range runs for 700 miles along the northwest coast of the United States and into Canada. The highest point is Mount Rainier at 14,411 feet. It is considered part of the Ring of Fire which is a number of volcanic mountains that circle the Pacific Ocean. The active volcano Mount Saint Helens is part of the Cascades. Ozarks - The Ozarks form the largest mountain range between the Appalachians and the Rockies. They are located mostly in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The highest point of the Ozarks is Buffalo Lookout at 2,561 feet.

Alaska Range - The Alaska Range is the tallest mountain range in the United States and is home to Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,237 feet above sea level. More on US geographical features: Adirondack Mountains | Official Adirondack Region Website Red Sunset at Blue Mountain Lake Janet McNally Just a few hours north of New York City, the Adirondack Mountains offer an outdoor paradise. These mountains lie within the Adirondack Park , and contain millions of acres of protected land. Pristine and expansive, the Adirondacks' mountains and rivers have inspired generations to hike, paddle and play in nature. Representing the largest protected area in the contiguous United States, the Adirondack Mountains boast more than 2,000 miles of hiking trails, over 3,000 lakes and ponds, and 1,200 miles of rivers. Adirondack Geology The Adirondack Mountains are more than 5,000,000 years old and are a monument to the shifting, irrepressible powers of the last ice age.

Towering above New York's diverse landscape, the Adirondacks detail a history when small alpine glaciers carved their way through what is now the Adirondack Region, and glacial erratics - stones deposited by the glacier - were scattered across the landscape. Massive chunks of ice broke away from the glacier, and were buried beneath sand and gravel washed from the ice. As these ice chunks melted, depressions, called kettle holes, were formed. When a kettle hole extended below the water table, a pond was created. Many of the small, circular ponds you see while hiking in the high peaks began as kettle holes. Over millennia, as glaciers carved away the landscape, mountains began to take shape. Unlike the Rockies and the Appalachians, the Adirondack Mountains do not form a connected range, but rather a 160-mile wide dome of more than 100 peaks. Although the mountains are formed from ancient rocks more than 1,000 million years old, geologically, the dome is a newborn.

Because of this, the Adirondacks have been referred to as "new mountains from old rocks." It is theorized that there is a "hotspot" beneath the region, which causes continued uplift at the rate of 1.5-3 cm annually. The Adirondack Peaks can be anywhere from 1,200 feet tall to well over 5,000 feet tall, and the 46 tallest summits above 4,000 feet are called the High Peaks. Although four peaks were later discovered to measure less than 4,000 feet, they are still considered part of the High Peaks region. The highest mountain of them all is Mount Marcy, towering 5,344 feet above sea level. It is one of the most distinctive features of the Adirondack landscape. Mount Marcy is home to Lake Tear of the Clouds, the highest lake in New York State at 4,292 feet, and the source of the Hudson River. Exploring the Adirondack Mountains One of the first places to receive Forever Wild status in United States, these mountains have been cherished as an outdoor playground, accessible and open to all, for centuries.

From the shores of Lake Champlain, to the tallest ridge of the Tug hill Plateau, the Adirondack Mountains offer an astonishing natural paradise filled with possibility for adventure in every season. Skiing in the Adirondacks If you're a skier or snowboarder, you've come to the right place. Thanks to mountain's topography, lake effects and jet stream dynamics, the region is known for weather patterns ideal for snow production – which means great conditions for skiing and riding at ski resorts in the Adirondack Park. Snow typically begins falling in October or November, and can continue through April or May. Snow production is steadiest between December and March, with 15 to 30 inches of snow falling per month throughout the region. Even during wintertime, the mountain air is crisp and clear. Exploring the Forests and Mountains The mountains also greatly affect the region's weather patterns, which have helped to develop unique ecology, habitats and alpine zones, and provide an ecological paradise for explorers and researchers.

The mountains themselves are heavily forested, with hardwoods, fir and spruce, and include three types of wetlands – swamps, marshes and bogs – that are perfect for supporting hearty wildlife, including great blue herons, painted turtles, grouse, and loons. Thanks to the great variance in climate between seasons, the mountains are also a great host to several species of migratory birds, who put on a great show each fall and spring as they leave or arrive for the season. Hundreds of visitors "flock" to the region to attend annual Adirondack birding festivals celebrating this spectacular occurrence. Fishing Adirondack Waterways If the thrill of fishing or fly-fishing is what you're after, you guessed it – the Adirondack Mountains also shape the area's watersheds that feed some of the region's rivers and best fishing waters . The Lake Champlain Watershed, located between the Adirondack Mountains and the Green Mountains of Vermont, feeds the Ausable River, Saranac River, Lake George, Upper Saranac Lake, Lower Saranac Lake and Lake Placid.

Water quality in the Lake Champlain Watershed is rated as generally good-to-excellent, which makes it ideal for boaters and fishers. Bass, trout, walleyes, salmon, and pike are just a few of the types of fish that call the Adirondack Watersheds home. Preserving Forever Wild Spaces The Adirondack Mountains are the place to experience the thrill of every season and climate, to connect with nature and feel the great power of untouched wilderness. The Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Mountain Club take great care and pride in preserving the mountains, maintaining trails and structures you can use to hike or camp in the area, and providing important information to explorers. Each year, hundreds of volunteers take to the mountain to complete specific trail maintenance work and reconstruction projects, motivated by a shared love for the wilderness and adventure found in the Adirondack Mountains.

Trip Planning Resources Blue Ridge Mountains - Peakbagger.com Peakbagger.com Mountain range with well-recognized name Highest Point United States States/Provinces Virginia (33%), North Carolina (25%), Tennessee (12%), Georgia (10%), Maryland (9%), Pennsylvania (6%), South Carolina (3%), West Virginia (1%) (numbers are approximate percentage of range area) Area 34,563 sq mi / 89,517 sq km Area may include lowland areas Extent 418 mi / 672 km North-South 482 mi / 775 km East-West Center Lat/Long 37° 15' N; 79° 35' W Map Link Yahoo Search The Blue Ridge is the extremely long mountain crest that runs from just north of the Potomac River on the Virginia-Maryland border south all the way to northern Georgia. The Blue Ridge Mountain Complex can be thought of as the Blue Ridge, with two main additions: its low continuations north of the Potomac into Maryland and Pennsylvania, and, more importantly, the whole series of high mountains centered on western North Carolina and extending west into Tennessee and south into Georgia.

These high ranges include the Great Smokies and many others, and contain all of the 6000 foot peaks in the Appalachians except New Hampshire's Mt. Washington. The entire huge complex of the Blue Ridge Mountains has clear natural boundaries. On the east, the mountains rise up distinctly from the flatter, rolling hills of the Piedmont. On the west, the Blue Ridge drops to the extraordinary Appalachian Valley, a continuous trough running from Alabama to Montreal. The Blue Ridge and its associated ranges are almost entirely thickly forested, gentle, rounded mountains. Way too far south to even approach having a timberline, even the summits of Mt. Mitchell (6684') and Clingmans Dome (6636') are in the middle of deep forest and would have no views whatsoever if lookout towers hadn't been built. No other large mountain range in the country has as many good, paved roads meandering through the high country and up to important summits. And pointed, craggy summits as rare in the Blue Ridge as low, rounded ones are in the Tetons. However, as with any huge area, generalizations are never totally true.

There may not be any timberline, but the summits of many "Balds" in the Blue Ridge area are open meadows with often fine views. There are pockets of rugged, challenging terrain, and even a few peaks with rocky ledges at the summits that poke above the trees and provide spectacular mountain settings--Old Rag-3268 in Virginia and Grandfather Mountain-5984 in North Carolina come to mind. The lack of challenging monster mountains isn't necessarily a drawback, either. The many high roads in this area, plus the gentle slopes and often short walks to summits from high trailheads, make the Blue Ridge an excellent place for mountain explorers who don't go for backpacking, rugged scrambling, or rock-climbing. A family or retired couple in their car doing easy dayhikes can spend huge amounts of time in the highest country in the east without ever getting a mile away from a car.

Also, mountains need not present sheer, craggy faces to impress; the Blue Ridge charms with its endless waves of green hillsides, its incredibly diverse flora and fauna in its damp forests, its haunting blue morning mists (which gave the Blue Ridge and the Great Smokies their names), and the fascinating Appalachian culture of the long-time residents. Some of the mountain folk, isolated in their deep mountain hollows, speak English so similar to the Elizabethan dialect of the 1600s that it has interested Shakespearean scholars. The very high average height of the southern Blue Ridge region gives it a climate that most people do not associate with the south. Winter snows can be heavy, and even spring blizzards can happen, as A.T. through-hikers getting an early start in April in Georgia sometimes find out. The area has the greatest rainfall in the contiguous U.S. outside of the Pacific Northwest, and is also much cooler and less humid than the surrounding lowlands.

Asheville, NC, the large city in the center of the southern Blue Ridge Complex, has been rated as having one of the most pleasant climates, due to more bearable summers than in, say, Atlanta, with more bearable winters than found in places like New England. This pattern is less true for the northern Blue Ridge in Virginia, with its much lower elevations and much narrower mountain mass. North of Roanoke, VA, the Blue Ridge is pretty much a single mountain crest. South of Roanoke, it startes expanding into a huge, wide, confusing oval of ranges and ridges that extends all the way into Georgia. To make sense of the entire complex, it has been divided into 4 sections: first,the Northern Blue Ridge, the single ridge north of Roanoke; second, the Southern Blue Ridge Front, which forms the eastern and southern edges of the large southern oval; third, the massive Great Smoky Mountains; fourth, the Western Blue Ridge Ranges, which are the other ranges at the western edge of the oval excepting the Smokies; and fifth and finally, the Central Blue Ridge Ranges, the jumble in the middle of the oval, which includes the Black Mountains and its high point, Mt.

Mitchell (6684') . Map of Blue Ridge Mountains Click on red triangle icons for links to other ranges. Note: Range borders shown on map are an approximation and are not authoritative. Black Mountains | mountain range, North Carolina, United States | Britannica.com Black Mountains mountain range, North Carolina, United States Written By: Blue Ridge Black Mountains, mountain range in Yancey and Buncombe counties in western North Carolina , U.S. , part of the Appalachian Mountains extending north from the Blue Ridge . The range includes Mount Mitchell (6,684 feet [2,037 metres]), the highest point east of the Mississippi River . Since the Black Mountains were not subject to glaciation, their slopes are covered with soil to the top, except for rocky precipices , and are heavily wooded. They lie within Pisgah National Forest and are a popular recreational site. Waterfall at Linville Gorge, Pisgah National Forest, western North Carolina. Comstock/Jupiterimages North Carolina constituent state of the United States of America.

One of the 13 original states, it lies on the Atlantic coast midway between New York and Florida and is bounded to the north by Virginia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by South Carolina and Georgia, and to the west by Tennessee.... Appalachian Mountains great highland system of North America, the eastern counterpart of the Rocky Mountains. Extending for almost 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador to central Alabama in the United States, the Appalachian Mountains form a natural barrier between the eastern... Blue Ridge segment of the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. The mountains extend southwestward for 615 miles (990 km) from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, through parts of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, to Mount Oglethorpe, Georgia. The range, a relatively narrow ridge, is 5 to 65... 2 References found in Britannica Articles Assorted References division of Appalachian Mountains (in Appalachian Mountains: Physiography ) features of Mount Mitchell (in Mount Mitchell ) External Links Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this.

Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Mountain range, North Carolina, United States Tips for Editing Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission.

Please try again later. Close Date Published: October 08, 2007 URL: Access Date: January 19, 2017 Share NPS: Explore Nature » Geologic Resources » Education Adirondack The Adirondack province is an extension of the Canadian Shield, which is the nucleus of North America. Forming most of northern New York, this uplifted complex of Precambrian metamorphic rocks is part of the ancient Grenville Orogeny. The Adirondacks are part of the Appalachian Highlands division which also includes the Appalachian Plateaus, Blue Ridge, New England, Piedmont, St. Lawrence Valley and the Valley and Ridge provinces. There are no National Parks in the Adirondack province. For more information visit the Adirondack State Park website. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH. Appalachian Plateaus Stretching from New York to Alabama, Appalachian Plateaus show evidence of deformation by plate collision. The birth of the mountain ranges in this region, some 480 million years ago, marks the first of several mountain building plate collisions that culminated in the construction of the supercontinent Pangaea with the Appalachians near the center.

Death Valley National Park, CA & NV. NPS Photo by Dale Pate. Basin and Range The Basin and Range province has a characteristic topography that is familiar to anyone who is lucky enough to venture across it. Steep climbs up elongate mountain ranges alternate with long treks across flat, dry deserts, over and over and over again! This basic topographic pattern extends from eastern California to central Utah, and from southern Idaho into the state of Sonora in Mexico. The combination of the arid climate and the tensional stress applied to the crust over the past 30 million years formed the horst and graben topography, and the block-faulted ridges and lowlands, found in this province today. Blue Ridge The Blue Ridge Physiographic Province contains some of the most impressive scenery in the Eastern United States. Seen on a map, the Blue Ridge looks like an elongated teardrop and is situated between the Valley and Ridge and the Piedmont provinces. The Blue Ridge Province is fairly long, stretching a distance of over 550 miles from southern Pennsylvania to northeastern Georgia. The province is made up of ridges, rolling hills, and mountains of the Appalachian Mountain Belt.

Within the province is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, (Mt. Mitchel at 6,684 feet), as well as 50 other peaks over 6,000 feet. Sequoia National Park, CA. NPS Photo by Dale Pate. Cascade-Sierra Mountains The Cascade-Sierra Mountains province is recognized as a single province that encompasses the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains. These two mountain ranges formed by different geological forces and processes. The Sierra Nevada mountains can be thought of as an enormous tilted fault block with a long slope westward to California's Central Valley and steep eastern slope. The Cascades form an arc-shaped band extending from British Columbia to Northern California with 13 major volcanic centers that lie in sequence. Central Lowland The Central Lowland province, the largest physiographic province, cover an area about 585,000 miles which extends from western New York to North Dakota and south to Texas. The majority of the province is bounded by higher relief and elevations in the region are 2,000 feet or less.

The province is part of the Interior Plains division of the United States and characteristic features of the Central Lowland province are flat lands with geomorphic remnants of glaciation. Assateague Island National Seashore, MD, VA. Coastal Plain The Coastal Plain province is the flattest all of the physiographic provinces. It stretches over 2,200 miles in length from Cape Cod to the Mexican border and southward another 1,000 miles to the Yucatan Peninsula. The Atlantic plain slopes gently seaward from the inland highlands in a series of terraces. This gentle slope continues far into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, forming the continental shelf. Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, AZ. NPS Photo by Dale Pate. Colorado Plateaus This region is one of the world's premier natural showcases for Earth history. Encompassing 240,000 square miles, the Colorado Plateaus straddles the region known as Four Corners, where the states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico meet. Ancient volcanic mountains, plateaus and buttes, deeply carved canyons, and amazing ranges in color are the region's defining characteristics.

The sculpted beauty and brilliant colors of the Colorado Plateaus' sedimentary rock layers have captured the imaginations of countless geologists. This is a vast region of plateaus, mesas, and deep canyons whose walls expose rocks ranging in age from billions to just a few hundred years old. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, OR. Columbia Plateau The Columbia Plateau province is enveloped by one of the world's largest accumulations of lava. The topography here is dominated by geologically young lava flows that inundated the countryside within the last 17 million years. Over 170,000 cubic kilometers of basaltic lava, known as the Columbia River basalts, covers the western part of the province. Throughout the entire province over 300 high-volume individual lava flows have been identified, along with countless smaller flows. Great Plains Covering over 450,000 square miles the Great Plains province is the second largest physiographic province. The vast majority of the province is plateau-like with flat plains and little relief throughout. Though this region is known for it's flatness, some isolated mountains and lowlands are included in portions on the province.

The Great Plains, along with the Central Lowland and Interior Low Plateaus, make up the Interior Plains. Natchez Trace Parkway, AL, MS, TN. Interior Low Plateaus The Interior Low Plateaus is part of the Interior Plains and the elevation of the province ranges from 1000 feet to as low as 500-600 feet. A prominant structural feature of this province is the northeast-southwest anticline that runs through the entire province. The Cincinnati Arch is the axis of the fold and is a structural high for the region. Lower California Dominated by faults, the Lower California province (sometimes called the Peninsular Ranges) is a group of mountain ranges that stretch from southern California to the tip of Baja California in Mexico. The core of the province consists of a large mass of Mesozoic plutonic igneous rock. This collection of plutons comprises the Peninsular Range Batholith. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO. Photo courtesy Heather Walborn. Middle, Northern, and Southern Rocky Mountains The Rockies form an impressive mountain barrier that stretches from Canada through central New Mexico.

A look at the topography reveals a discontinuous series of mountain ranges with distinct geological origins that occurred from 170 to 40 million years ago. The Rocky Mountain System is broken down into the Wyoming Basin, Middle Rocky Mountains, Northern Rocky Mountains, and the Southern Rocky Mountains. Acadia National Park, ME. New England The New England province is part of the Appalachian Highlands and contains similar rock types to those found in the Piedmont. However, the provinces differ in that the New England province contains more mountains and has been subjected to Pleistocene glaciation. Structural features on this province include block-fault basins, large intrusive igneous masses, and shoreline cliffs. Fort Smith National Historic Site, AR, OK. Ouachita Ouachita and the Ozark Plateaus provinces comprise a division of the United States known as the Interior Highlands. The Ouachita province closely resembles the Valley and Ridge geomorphic features of ridges and valleys that have been eroded on upturned, folded strata. The province lies in central-western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma and has an average east-west length of 225 miles. Buffalo National River, AR.

Ozark Plateaus Covering an area of roughly 40,000 square miles, the Ozark Plateaus is the second half of the Interior Highlands division of the United States. The Ozark Plateaus can be thought of as a high, hilly landscape on stratified rocks that is bounded by topographic lowlands. Olympic National Park, WA. Pacific Border The Pacific Border straddles the boundaries between several of Earth's moving plates on the western margin of North America. This region is one of the most geologically young and tectonically active in North America. The generally rugged, mountainous landscape of this province provides evidence of ongoing mountain-building. Characteristic features in this province include lowlands on the eastern margin coupled with mountains and coasts to the west. Chattahoochee River, GA. Piedmont The Piedmont province extends from Alabama to the Hudson River in New York. At its widest the province is just 125 miles wide and contains the fewest mountains of the Appalachian Highlands. The Piedmont is often considered a rolling upland with a few monadnocks, or inselbergs, that stand out from the surface.

Bog River Flow from Low's Ridge, St Lawrence County, NY. St. Lawrence Valley The St. Lawrence Valley is in upstate New York and north-western Vermont and extends into Canada. This region of fairly flat, low-lying topography is composed of two sections, the Champlain and Northern sections. The Champlain section has glaciated rolling lowlands that are partly covered by a plain of recent marine deposits. The Northern section contains local rock hills that are also covered by a plain of recent marine deposits. There are no National Parks in the St. Lawrence Valley province. Isle Royale National Park, MI. Superior Upland The Superior Upland province is the southern extension of the Laurentian Upland Province, part of the nucleus of North America called the Canadian Shield. The rocks of the Superior Upland are mostly Precambrian metamorphic rocks and overlying Paleozoic rocks (Cambrian) covered by a thin veneer of glacial deposits left behind when glaciers melted at the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age. Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, KY, TN, VA. NPS Photo by Dale Pate.

Valley and Ridge The Valley and Ridge province is a set of northeast-southwest trending valleys and ridges that stretch from central Alabama to New York. These ridges and valleys are the result of folded Paleozoic sedimentary beds that were eventually eroded away. This means that, structurally, the folds are alternating anticlines and synclinces that run nearly parallel with each other. These long narrow folds are sometimes overturned, overthrust or are plunging folds. Dinosaur National Monument, CO, UT. Wyoming Basin Lying between the Middle Rockies and the Southern Rockies, the Wyoming Basin is an elevated depression with structural features dating back to the mountain building event that shaped the Rocky Mountains (the Laramide Orogeny). Characteristic features of the Wyoming Basin include hogbacks, cuestas, and numerous basins that are separated by mountains of varying size. Stone Mountain Lake The Appalachian Mountains is a vast mountain range located in the Eastern United States.

The Appalachians are actually a system of mountains that include thirteen provinces: The Maritime Plain, Maritime Acadian Highlands, Atlantic Coast Uplands, Eastern Newfoundland Atlantic, Notre Dame and Megantic Mountains, Piedmont, Western Newfoundland Mountains, Blue Ridge, Valley and Ridge, Saint Lawrence Valley, New England province, Adirondack Provinces and Appalachian Plateaus. The mountain range spans from Kentucky in the southern region of the United States to Southeastern areas of Canada. The Appalachian Mountains take their name from the Native American village that was located near Tallahassee, Florida. The name was transcribed as “Apalachee” and eventually became “Appalachian.” The highest point in the Appalachian mountain range is Mt. Mansfield, which is an astonishing 4,393 ft in elevation and is part of the Green Mountains of Vermont. It sits between the towns of Stowe, Vermont and Cambridge, Vermont. The water run-off for the Appalachian Mountain range empties into several different rivers that run through the range, including the New River Gorge and the Kanawha River, Hudson River, Ohio River, Cumberland River, Tennessee River, Ohio River and Mississippi River, and then emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

There is a wide variety of wildlife that is unique to the Appalachian Mountains. There are five different species of tree squirrels that are native to the Appalachians, including the elusive Appalachian Northern Flying Squirrel. Beavers and black bears, along with wild turkeys, several varieties of owls and many different species of salamanders call the Appalachians home. Search: Mountains : Lake Toxaway Company Lake Toxaway Company Find a Home or Homesite Property Type area MLS Old hills create fresh memories The storied Blue Ridge Mountains are ancient hills, part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range that runs from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Named for their ethereal bluish hue when seen from a distance - Native Americans referred to them the "Great Blue Hills of God" - the Blue Ridge Mountains are as much a draw to members and guests as the scenic lake that gives the community its name. They have served as watchful sentry over this Western North Carolina landscape for thousands of years. Despite the vicissitudes of time, these majestic mountains remain intact. Lake Toxaway is located in a valley surrounded by Toxaway Mountain, Ravenrock Mountain, Cold Mountain, Panthertail Mountain, Little Panthertail Mountain, and Hawk Mountain.

The tallest of these peaks rises to nearly 4,800 feet above sea level - 1,700 feet above the lake surface - to present breathtaking views of the rising elevation. A starring role on the silver screen Cold Mountain, the 1997 best-selling historical novel by Charles Frazier, was adapted into an award-winning film in 2003. The storyline was based on Frazier's great-great uncle, who lived near the real Cold Mountain just north of Lake Toxaway. copyright © 2015 Lake Toxaway Co Stay Informed Popular Mountains in the US Romantic World Destinations Share US mountains come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are scarcely larger than hills and are enshrouded in trees and vegetation, while others rise so high into the sky that their upper reaches are comprised of little more than rock and sometimes even perpetual ice and snow. Regardless of their size, the most popular mountains in the US are ideal outdoor playgrounds that are known not only for their wealth of recreational opportunities, but for their scenic value as well. Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains Image: AER Wilmington DE (flickr) No other range dominates the US landscape quite like the Rocky Mountains .

The size of the range alone makes it a major standout among the country’s topographical features, as does its role in helping to form the Continental Divide. Some of the highest peaks in the contiguous 48 are found in the Rocky Mountains Range, with Colorado being home to the highest concentration of mountains that top the 14,000-foot mark. Mount Elbert, at 14,440 feet, is the tallest peak in Colorado and within the Rocky Mountains in general. The US portion of the Rocky Mountains extends from western Montana and eastern Idaho on down through parts of Wyoming , Utah , Colorado and New Mexico . The range is home to some of the nation’s very best parks and mountains resorts, making it prime vacation territory. Among the parks of note is Yellowstone National Park. Smoky Mountains Smoky Mountains Image: Mountain Photo Gallery (flickr) Some of the most popular mountains in the US straddle the Tennessee - North Carolina border. They are the Great Smoky Mountains , often referred to in short as the Smoky Mountains or simply the Smokies. The Great Smoky name is inspired by the magical haze that is so often seen when looking out over the horizon.

Protecting the majority of the range is the eponymous Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is America’s most visited national park. Hiking is among the activities of choice in the Smoky Mountains, due in part to the fact that a portion of the Appalachian Trail cuts through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail’s highest point is Clingmans Dome , which measures 6,643 feet above sea level. Clingmans Dome is also the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains on the whole. As a side note, the Great Smoky Mountains are a physiographic province of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In turn, the Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger and more encompassing Appalachian Mountains. Appalachian Mountains Appalachian Mountains Image: Nicholas_T (flickr) Much like the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains stretch for a considerable distance, running through portions of multiple states. Such ranges are perhaps best defined as mountain systems, as they are basically a collection of regional mountain ranges. In the US, the Appalachian Mountains reach from Maine all the way down to Alabama .

Other US states that claim significant sections of the range include New Hampshire, Vermont, New York , Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Subranges and hilly areas extend the general boundaries of the Appalachian Mountains and the associated Appalachia cultural region. Among the mountain subranges of note in the Appalachian region is the aforementioned Great Smoky Mountains range. Numerous parks and mountain resorts are sprinkled throughout the Appalachian Mountains, and the region’s star attraction – the Appalachian Trail – runs all the way from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia . Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Mountains Image: cdsessums (flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0 Among the most notable US mountains that are part of the larger Appalachian Mountains Range are the Blue Ridge Mountains . Stretching from Georgia on northward to Pennsylvania , this range gets its name from the bluish color that its mountains take on when viewed from a distance. Two major national parks that are found within this subrange of the Appalachian Mountains are Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Mountains region also claims the Blue Ridge Parkway and a portion of the Appalachian Trail.

More than 100 peaks in the Blue Ridge range exceed 5,000 feet in elevation, with the highest of the bunch being Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet. Of all the US mountains east of the Mississippi River, not one is higher than Mt. Mitchell. Adirondack Mountains Adirondack Mountains Image: Tony Fischer Photography (flickr) The Adirondack Mountains in New York State have long been some of the most popular mountains in the US for outdoor recreation. This has a lot to do with the range’s proximity to major population centers. Cities that are within a few hours’ drive or less include New York City , Boston , Burlington , Montreal , and Ottawa . Serving as the home of the Adirondack Mountains is the Adirondack Park, which covers more than six million acres and offers miles of hiking trails to go with its extensive collection of rivers, ponds and lakes. The most famous lake within the park’s borders is Lake Placid. Skiing is among the winter activities of choice in the Adirondack Mountains, with Whiteface Mountain offering the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies.

Fall brings the changing colors of the trees, which is spectacular to witness. Cascade Mountains Cascade Mountains Over on the western side of the country, the Cascade Mountains figure among the most popular mountains in the US. The Cascade Range, which has a portion in Canada ’s British Columbia province, covers parts of Washington , Oregon and Northern California . Many of the peaks in this large range exceed 10,000 feet in elevation. They include two of the region’s most famous peaks – Mount Hood (11,235 feet) and Mount Rainier (the tallest peak in the range at 14,410 feet). Also interesting to note is that most of the peaks in the Cascade Range are volcanoes, the majority of which are thankfully extinct. Mount Saint Helens is the most famous of the active volcanoes in this region. Another famous attraction in the Cascade Mountains that is indicative of the area’s volcanic history is Crater Lake in Oregon. A good way to take in the scenery of the Cascade Mountains is by hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail . Sierra Mountains Sierra Mountains Other popular US mountains to enjoy in the western region of the country are the Sierra Mountains .

More officially known as the Sierra Nevada Mountains, these rather lofty peaks extend for some 400 miles, with the majority of the range being in the east-central region of California. A portion of the range extends into Nevada . Among the most notable features of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are Mount Whitney and Lake Tahoe . Mount Whitney reaches an elevation of 14,505 feet and is the highest point in the contiguous United States. Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake. As is true of other regions that are characterized by mountains, the Sierra Nevada region is one of great natural beauty. Other ideas for places to take it all in include Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park . Compare Travel Sites and Save!

Question: The Adirondack and Blue Ridge ranges are part of what larger mountain range?
Answer: Appalachian