Peters Mountain

For the ridge in Pennsylvania, see Peters Mountain (Pennsylvania).
Peters Mountain

At the state line along Route 311
Highest point
Peak Monroe County High Point (Monroe County, WV/Giles County, VA)
Elevation 4,073 ft (1,241 m) [1]
Coordinates 37°28′36″N 80°31′30″W / 37.47667°N 80.52500°W / 37.47667; -80.52500
Geography

Location of WV 311/VA 311 Crossing in West Virginia

Country United States
States Virginia and West Virginia
Counties Alleghany VA, Craig VA, Giles VA and Monroe WV
Range coordinates 37°36′24″N 80°14′27″W / 37.6067°N 80.2408°W / 37.6067; -80.2408Coordinates: 37°36′24″N 80°14′27″W / 37.6067°N 80.2408°W / 37.6067; -80.2408
Parent range Allegheny Mountains
Topo map USGS 

Peters Mountain is a 52-mile (84 km) mountain in the Allegheny ridge, which makes it the longest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain Chain. It is located on the border between Alleghany County, VA, Monroe County, WV, Giles Co.,VA, and Craig Co.,VA. Its elevation ranges from 4,073 feet (1,241 m) on the mountaintop to a low of 2,300 feet (700 m).[1][2] It produces some of the water supply for Monroe County.

There are numerous sandstone outcroppings along the crest of the Peters Mountain and a number of high mountain bogs on Pine Swamp Ridge. The Mountain is primarily forested with upland oak, yellow poplar, red oak, and hickory.

The mountain was named for Peter Wright, who settled by the mountain in Covington, Virginia in 1746.[3]

The Appalachian Trail traverses part of the crest of Peters Mountain. The Allegheny Trail also reaches its southern terminus here at the state boundary.

The Peters Mountain Wilderness, lying on the east slope of Peters Mountain in Virginia and designated in 1984, now has a total of 4,531 acres (18.34 km2). It is managed by Jefferson National Forest.

Special Geology

Peters Mountain is unique compared to surrounding mountains. In its area, it is one of the only mountains that contains limestone. Limestone, calcium carbonate, is a special type of mineral that neutralizes many harmful substances.

References

  1. 1 2 "West Virginia Summits". PeakList.org. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=452
  3. ↑ Morton, Oren F. (1980) History of Monroe County West Virginia, Regional Publishing Company pg. 280

Geology studies By M. S. Meadows.

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