Provin Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Provin Mountain |
|
|---|---|
View from Provin Mountain
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | ridge high point |
| Geography | |
| Location | Westfield, Southwick, and Agawam, Massachusetts |
| Parent range | Metacomet Ridge |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 200 Ma |
| Mountain type | Fault-block; igneous |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Metacomet-Monadnock Trail |
Provin Mountain is a long, narrow mountain ridge located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of a larger mountain range called the Metacomet Ridge. This ridge stretches from Long Island Sound in Connecticut all the way north to the Vermont border. Provin Mountain is famous for its amazing cliffs, special mini-ecosystems, and rare plants. A long hiking path, the 114-mile (183 km) Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, goes right over the mountain.
Contents
Where is Provin Mountain?
Provin Mountain stands tall, rising about 200 to 450 feet above the Connecticut River and Westfield River valleys below. Its highest point is 600 feet above sea level. The mountain is about 5 miles (8 km) long. However, it is not much wider than 0.5 miles (0.8 km) at its widest spot.
The Provin Mountain ridge starts near the Connecticut border. It then stretches north to the Westfield River. The mountain is located in the towns of Southwick, Agawam, and Westfield. North of the Westfield River, the Metacomet Ridge continues as East Mountain. To the south, it continues into Connecticut as West Suffield Mountain.
TV and Radio Towers
At the top of Provin Mountain, you can find the transmitters for several TV and radio stations. WWLP, a TV station, first started broadcasting from this spot in 1953. Their main studios moved away in 2000, but the transmitter and its 475-foot (139 m) tower are still there. Other stations like WAQY, WHTX-LP, and WDMR-LP also have transmitters on the mountain. It's also a hub for many cell phone and two-way radio signals.
How Provin Mountain Formed
Provin Mountain, like much of the Metacomet Ridge, is made of a type of rock called basalt, also known as traprock. This rock formed from lava that came out of the ground about 200 million years ago. This happened when the North American continent started to pull away from Africa and Eurasia.
Over time, earthquakes and shifting ground caused these layers of rock to tilt. This tilting created the steep cliffs and the long ridgeline we see today on Provin Mountain.
Unique Nature
The mountain has a mix of different environments. The upper slopes are hot and dry, while the ravines are cool and moist. The rocky ledges are rich in minerals. This creates special "mini-ecosystems" that support plants and animals not often found in other parts of Massachusetts. Provin Mountain is also an important path for raptors (like hawks and eagles) when they migrate.
Fun on the Mountain
Provin Mountain is a great place for outdoor activities. People enjoy hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hunting, and snowshoeing here. Many of the cliffs offer amazing views. You can see the quiet countryside to the west and the busy city of Springfield, Massachusetts to the east.
Protecting the Mountain
Even though parts of the mountain are protected in Robinson State Park, much of it is on private land. This means the mountain faces challenges like new buildings (suburban sprawl) and rock quarrying.
In 2000, the National Park Service studied Provin Mountain. They were looking into creating a new long-distance path called the New England National Scenic Trail. This trail would include the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and other trails in Connecticut. This effort helps protect the mountain's natural beauty for everyone to enjoy.
