Bear Pond Mountains Explained

Bear Pond Mountains
Photo Size:275
Country:United States
Region:Pennsylvania,Maryland,
Highest:Cross Mountain
Elevation Ft:2062
Range Coordinates:39.7172°N -77.9751°W
Period:Ordovician
Orogeny:Alleghenian

The Bear Pond Mountains are a subrange in the Appalachian Mountains, that straddle Pennsylvania and Maryland in the United States. These mountains are a part of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians and reach their highest point at Cross Mountain (Pennsylvania) 2062feet. A unique geologic feature known as the "Punchbowl" occurs in this range. This feature was created by the weathered shales of the Ordovician age in the center of a south-plunging anticline, having been eroded to expose a large amphitheater-like feature (punchbowl). Cross and Hearthstone Mountain are made of hard resistant quartzite of the Tuscarora Formation of the Silurian age, which form the walls of the bowl.

Whitetail Ski Resort is also located in this range on Two Top Mountain.

The chief summits of the Bear Pond Mountains are the following:

See also

References

Alan R. Geyer (1979) "Outstanding Geologic Features of Pennsylvania", Geological Survey of Pennsylvania