Mountain peaks of Virginia facts for kids

Further information: Virginia and Environment of Virginia

Mount Rogers in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak in Virginia.

Virginia is home to many beautiful mountains! This article will help you learn about the tallest and most important mountain peaks in the state. We'll look at how high they are, how much they stand out from the land around them, and how far they are from other peaks of the same height.

A "major summit" in this article means a mountain peak that rises at least 500 meters (about 1,640 feet) above the land around it. This helps us focus on the most significant mountains in Virginia.

How We Measure Mountains

The height of a mountain peak can be measured in three main ways:

• Elevation: This is how high a mountain's top is above sea level. Imagine the ocean's surface; elevation tells you how far up the mountain goes from that point. The first table below lists Virginia's major peaks by their elevation, from highest to lowest.
• Prominence: This measures how much a mountain peak rises above its lowest connecting point to any higher peak. Think of it as how much a mountain "sticks out" from the surrounding landscape. A mountain with high prominence looks very impressive. The second table shows the most prominent peaks in Virginia.
• Isolation: This tells you how far a mountain peak is from any other peak that is just as high or higher. It shows how "alone" a mountain stands. The third table lists the most isolated major peaks in Virginia.

Virginia's Highest Peaks

This section lists the 11 highest mountain peaks in Virginia that also have a prominence of at least 500 meters. You'll notice that three of these tall peaks are in Tazewell County, two are in Giles County, and the others are spread across different counties.

Virginia's Most Prominent Peaks

This section highlights the 11 mountain peaks in Virginia that stand out the most from their surroundings. These mountains have the highest "prominence," meaning they rise significantly above the land around them.

Virginia's Most Isolated Peaks

This section lists the 11 major mountain peaks in Virginia that are the most "isolated." This means they are the farthest away from other peaks of the same height or taller. These mountains truly stand alone!