Mauch Chunk Mountain

Mauch Chunk Ridge or
Mauch Chunk Mountain
Mauch Chunk Ridge or ; Mauch Chunk Mountain
Highest point
Elevation	1,501 ft (458 m)displayed map
Geography
Location	Carbon County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Parent range	Appalachian Mountains, Poconos
Topo map	USGS 40075G8, 1947&'83 Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Mauch Chunk Ridge (on older USGS Maps) or Mauch Chunk Mountain is a historically important barrier ridgeline north of the

Pisgah Ridge^[1] in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians of Northeastern Pennsylvania

.

The three lengthy ridges and two valley formations together are literally the first ridges and valleys just south of the

Great depression

.

The north slopes of the long series of worn peaks feed the minor tributary

rail road— enabled the output of the first coal mines of the southern Anthracite region at Summit Hill, Pennsylvania to be conveyed to the water transport available on the Lehigh River at what is now Packerton, Pennsylvania

. A number of early pack mule routes traveled in part along the north faces of the mountain's long ridgeline (12.5 miles (20.1 km)) from Summit Hill and points west.

The ridge is a succession of peaks exceeding 1,501 feet (457.5 m) looming 300–540 feet [3] above the rural bedroom communities now along in the Mauch Chunk Creek valley. The ridge forms the right bank drainage divide on the south and the streams source in the west. The west end of the ridge is named TBDL Geologically, the Mauch Chunk Ridge divide is classed as of minor degree, the watersheds north and south of the ridge enter the same body, the Lehigh, and do so only a few miles apart

Geology

The Mountain is but one average folded mountain in a succession of near parallel ridgelines, where each are made by a succession of peaks of nearly the same height. This

Ridge and Valley province is a geological feature that extends from New Jersey into Virginia forming a great barrier of successive valleys. Pisgah Mountain-just across the valley and creek, is located along the southern fringe of northeastern Pennsylvania's Poconos region but is also central to the Southern Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania— known as the site of the Richest Anthracite Seam, in the heart of the Southern Pennsylvania Anthracite Field and the geological province known as the Anthracite Upland section. The ridgeline parallels the escarpment of the Blue Mountain

region.

The mountain ridge's peaks lie between two nearly parallel ridge lines to the north and south,

PA-Rt 443

.

At the

Broad Mountain via Delano Junction

, a railroad nexus still in use today.

Notes

^ USGS MRC: 40075-D6 (1893), Hazelton Quadrangles, Southernmost ridge on USGS topological map of Schuylkill-Lehigh River Drainage Divides, 1893, rev 1893.
^ See Lehigh Coal Company of eventual Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company.
^ By inspection (estimated from topological maps) - Low altitude is ~900' near Panther Creek, High streets, ca. 1040 ft, Summit Hill, variation is 140 ft, 1440-900=540, 1440-1040=300, which given 12-14 miles of ridge, is close enough to justify the statement.
^ summit @1557 per USGS, Benchmark of 480 above the river.

References

Alan R. Geyer (1979) "Outstanding Geologic Features of Pennsylvania", Geological Survey of Pennsylvania
Tom Thwaites (1997) "50 hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania", Third edition
Art Michaels (2003) "Pennsylvania Overlooks a guide for Sightseers and Outdoor People", Penn State Press

41°48′35″N 76°42′57″W / 41.80984°N 76.71591°W / 41.80984; -76.71591

[USGS-1893-1] USGS MRC: 40075-D6 (1893), Hazelton Quadrangles, Southernmost ridge on USGS topological map of Schuylkill-Lehigh River Drainage Divides, 1893, rev 1893.

[2] See Lehigh Coal Company of eventual Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company.

[3] By inspection (estimated from topological maps) - Low altitude is ~900' near Panther Creek, High streets, ca. 1040 ft, Summit Hill, variation is 140 ft, 1440-900=540, 1440-1040=300, which given 12-14 miles of ridge, is close enough to justify the statement.

[4] summit @1557 per USGS, Benchmark of 480 above the river.

[1]