Castle Rock (Pineville, West Virginia) facts for kids
Castle Rock is a special rock formation in Pineville, West Virginia, USA. It looks a lot like a tall castle! This amazing natural landmark stands right next to the Pineville Public Library.
What is Castle Rock?
This giant rock rises about 200 feet high. That's like a 20-story building! It stands above a small stream called Rock Castle Creek. This creek flows into the Guyandotte River.
The bottom of Castle Rock is very wide. It's about 100 feet across. About halfway up, there's a flat stone area. From this area, a narrower rock tower rises even higher. This top part is made of a type of rock called shale. It's about 20 feet wide at its base and a bit wider at the very top.
How Was Castle Rock Formed?
The layers of rock that make up Castle Rock were formed a very long time ago. This happened about 200 million years ago! Over millions of years, water slowly wore away the softer rock around it. This process, called erosion, carved out its unique castle-like shape.
History of Castle Rock
Early explorers in the area knew this rock simply as "the castle." For a while, there were ladders that people could use to climb to the very top. However, these ladders were taken down in 1911. They were removed for safety reasons after an accident occurred.
Later, steps and handrails were added. These allow people to safely reach the stone terrace partway up the rock. In 2001, a sign was placed in front of Castle Rock. This sign helps explain how this amazing natural wonder was created.
