Furnace Mountain (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Furnace Mountain |
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Furnace Mountain as seen from Point of Rocks, Maryland, with Point of Rocks Bridge in foreground
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 891 feet (272 m) |
| Prominence | 491 feet (150 m) |
| Parent peak | Catoctin Mountain |
| Geography | |
 Furnace Mountain
Location in Virginia
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| Location | Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Parent range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
Furnace Mountain is a cool mountain peak located in Loudoun County, Virginia, in the United States. It's the tallest part of the Catoctin Mountain range in this area. This mountain stands tall near the Potomac River, right across from Point of Rocks, Maryland.
It gets its name from old iron furnaces that used to operate at its base. These furnaces were very important for making iron a long time ago!
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Where is Furnace Mountain?
Furnace Mountain is found in Loudoun County, Virginia. It rises sharply from the southern side of the Potomac River. If you look across the river, you'll see Point of Rocks, Maryland.
The mountain stretches southward for about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). It reaches a height of 891 feet (about 272 meters). After its highest point, the land dips down before rising again to another peak nearby.
Why is it called Furnace Mountain?
The mountain's name comes from the iron furnaces that were built at its base. These furnaces were like big ovens. They were used to process iron ore. Iron ore is a type of rock found in the ground that contains iron.
How the Iron Furnaces Worked
The furnaces on Furnace Mountain were busy places. They operated for many years, from the 1790s all the way to the 1870s.
Here's how they generally worked:
- Miners dug up iron ore from the mountain itself.
- This ore was then brought to the furnaces.
- Inside the furnaces, the ore was heated to very high temperatures.
- This intense heat melted the iron out of the rock.
- The melted iron could then be shaped into useful items.
What was the Iron Used For?
The iron made at Furnace Mountain was very important. A lot of it was used to help build the growing city of Washington, D.C.. Imagine, parts of the buildings and structures in our nation's capital might have come from this very mountain!
