Black Mountain (Kentucky)

Coordinates: 36°54′51″N 82°53′38″W / 36.91417°N 82.89389°W / 36.91417; -82.89389
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Black Mountain
Katahrin's Mountain
U.S. state high point 27th
Coordinates36°54′51″N 82°53′38″W / 36.91417°N 82.89389°W / 36.91417; -82.89389
Geography
Parent rangeCumberland Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Benham
Climbing
First ascentunknown
Easiest routeHike

Black Mountain is the highest mountain peak in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States, with a summit elevation of 4,145 feet (1,263 m) [2] above mean sea level and a top-to-bottom height of over 2,500 feet (760 m). The summit is located at approximately 36°54′51″N 82°53′38″W / 36.91417°N 82.89389°W / 36.91417; -82.89389 in Harlan County, Kentucky near the Virginia border, just above the towns of Lynch, Kentucky and Appalachia, Virginia. It is alternatively known as Katahrin's Mountain, and is about 500 feet (150 m) taller than any other mountain in Kentucky.

Description

The summit of Black Mountain, August 2013
Black Mountain summit plaque

National Geodetic Survey benchmark is located on a large rock over the hill to the left of the fire tower. This benchmark is 6 feet (1.8 m) below the highest point;[2]
a second is directly under the old lookout tower, marking the latest survey of the highest natural point.

The FAA Radar dome is nearby, but below the summit. Trees on both sides of the radar dome have been cleared, so views of other mountains are visible. On a clear day the Great Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee and North Carolina border are clearly visible.

Black Mountain's history is intimately tied to the

mountaintop removal methods in the area of Black Mountain. Though the summit itself was not directly threatened, many people protested this action due to the peak's status as the state's highest point. In 1999, Kentucky purchased mineral
and timber rights to the summit and prevented future large scale mining. Coal companies have alleged that mined coal veins converge beneath the summit of Black Mountain and that the summit is prone to collapse.

A coal company named

Commonwealth of Kentucky owns the land and no waiver is required.[4]

Ecology

Black Mountain is one of the few sites in Kentucky supporting a

Southern Appalachia, fires swept across the mountain after intense logging. Black Mountain has a documented fire that occurred in the fall of 1896.[5]

See also
  • List of mountains of Kentucky
  • List of U.S. states by elevation

References

  1. ^ "ON THE RECORD: Brad Paisley and Guns N' Roses song 'November Rain'". Rapid City Journal Media Group.
  2. ^ a b c "Science In Your Backyard: Kentucky" U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey, July 3, 2006, retrieved August 25, 2006
  3. ^ "Kentucky 50 Finest Mountains". www.peaklist.org.
  4. ^ "New Address for Black Mountain, Kentucky Waiver". highpointers.org. February 5, 2010. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  5. ISBN 0-8131-9082-7
    .

External links

  • Media related to Black Mountain (Kentucky) at Wikimedia Commons
  • Required waiver for summit access Note: The waiver has a drawing that shows the elevation of Black Mountain as 4,139 feet (1,262 m). As shown on the USGS website, this is incorrect. The correct elevation is 4,145 feet (1,263 m) at the summit. A USGS benchmark is located on a large rock over the hill at 4,139 feet (1,262 m), but it is not on the summit. The summit is apparently under the old fire lookout tower.
  • Black Mountain Recreation Park
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