Image:WV plateau.jpg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Relief Map: Cumberland Plateau, West Virginia and "Ridge and Valley" region of Virginia

Image is Shaded Relief Imagery, derived from the US Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset, modified by Pollinator. USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain.

(Point of reference: Bluefield, West Virginia is on the Virginia/West Virginia border)

On the southeastern portion of this map is the folded Appalachians of Virginia, also known as the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians, which are the roots of true ancient mountains, uplifted once again, with the harder rock layers forming ridges and the more erodable rocks becoming valleys.

A major fault line runs from southwest to northeast dividing the folded mountains from the Cumberland Plateau of West Virginia, a dissected plateau that forms the majority of the image. This area of sedimentary rock (including many coal) veins is, geologically speaking, not true mountains, but merely was uplifted and eroded. Note that the area is actually more rugged than the folded mountains, though not as high.

Public Domain

This image is a work of a United States Geological Survey employee, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the United States Government, the image is in the public domain. For more information, see the USGS copyright policy.

File history

Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version.
Click on date to download the file or see the image uploaded on that date.


The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed):