Haystack Mountain (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haystack Mountain |
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|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,871 ft (570 m) |
| Prominence | 1,871 ft (570 m) |
Haystack Mountain in Pennsylvania is a peak that stands 1,871 feet (570 meters) tall. It's located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, within the Appalachian Mountains. This mountain is an important part of the landscape because it helps form a key mountain pass called Solomon Gap.
This pass connects two important valleys: the Wyoming Valley and the Lehigh Valley. Haystack Mountain is also very close to Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, where many homes are now built around it.
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Haystack Mountain: A Key Pennsylvania Peak
Haystack Mountain might not be the tallest peak, but it plays a big role in the geography of Pennsylvania. It's known for its steep slopes that face southwest. These slopes are part of the Solomon Gap pass.
Where is Haystack Mountain?
Haystack Mountain is found in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. It's located in Carbon County, near the town of Mountain Top. From the top of Haystack Mountain, you can see parts of the Wyoming Valley. You can also catch glimpses of the Pocono Mountains and the wider Lehigh Valley.
Why is Haystack Mountain Important?
Haystack Mountain is important because of its location next to the Solomon Gap pass. This pass is a natural pathway through the mountains. It has been used for a long time for transportation.
The Solomon Gap Pass
The Solomon Gap pass is a low point between Haystack Mountain and the taller Penobscot Mountain. This gap acts as a natural division for water flow, known as a drainage divide. Water on one side flows towards the Delaware River, and water on the other side flows towards the Susquehanna River.
A Hub for Transportation
Because of this natural gap, the Solomon Gap became a very important route for travel. Today, busy roads like PA Route 309 and PA Route 437 run through it. A major railroad also uses this corridor. This made it much easier to move goods and people across the mountains.
Haystack Mountain's History
In the past, the area around Haystack Mountain and the Solomon Gap was known by the Native American name "Penobscot." This name is now used for the higher peak nearby, Penobscot Mountain.
Early Railroads and Coal
In the 1830s, cities in the eastern United States needed a lot of coal for fuel. The mountains made it hard to transport coal from the Northern Anthracite Coal Fields. The Solomon Gap pass, located between Haystack Mountain and Penobscot Mountain, was one of the few places where a railroad could be built.
A company called Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company (LC&N) helped build early railroads. They wanted to make it easier to move coal from the mines to cities. Later, another company, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, also built tracks through this area. They even built a special branch line that went down the slopes of Haystack Mountain. This helped connect towns like Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre to the main rail network.
