Bear Mountain (Carbon County, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bear Mountain |
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Knob nearest Lehigh |
| Elevation | 1,673 ft (510 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10 mi (16 km) West-southwest-to-East-northeast |
| Width | 6.5–12.5 km (4.0–7.8 mi) north-south |
| Geography | |
Bear Mountain, Like Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) is just off this map on the next one east
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| Country | United States |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, Appalachian Mountains |
| Age of rock | Silurian |
| Type of rock | Tuscarora Formation and Shawangunk Formation; sedimentary |
Bear Mountain is a tall, steep-sided mountain ridge in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. It stretches for about 10 miles (16 km) near the Lehigh River. This mountain is known for its dramatic rise from the riverbanks. It climbs very quickly from about 580 feet (177 meters) to over 1,200 feet (366 meters) in a short distance.
Bear Mountain is a famous landmark. It sits right across from the town of Jim Thorpe. This area was once called the "Switzerland of the United States" because of its beautiful mountain views.
Location and Features
Bear Mountain is located in Carbon County. It is part of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. This means it's one of many long, parallel mountain ridges in the Appalachian Mountains. The mountain runs from west-southwest to east-northeast.
The Lehigh River flows along the northwest side of Bear Mountain. The river creates a beautiful area called the Lehigh Gorge. The mountain's steep face drops down towards the Penn Forest Reservoir.
How Bear Mountain Got Its Name
The Lenape people, who are Native Americans, used to live in this area. They saw the bend in the Lehigh River as looking like a bear's snout. This is how the mountain likely got its name.
Geology of the Mountain
Bear Mountain is made up of very old rocks. These rocks are mostly sedimentary rocks. This means they were formed from layers of sand, mud, and other materials that piled up over millions of years. The main rock types found here are the Tuscarora Formation and the Shawangunk Formation. These rocks formed during the Silurian period, which was about 443 to 419 million years ago. The mountain itself was formed during the building of the Appalachian Mountains.
