Rays Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rays Hill |
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View of Rays Hill from Sideling Hill
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,443 ft (745 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Bedford / Fulton / Huntingdon counties, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Parent range | Appalachian Mountains |
Rays Hill is a mountain ridge in Pennsylvania. A ridge is like a long, narrow chain of hills. This mountain is part of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians region.
Rays Hill has other mountains nearby. To its east is Sideling Hill. About halfway along its length, the west side of Rays Hill connects to Broad Top Mountain. Broad Top Mountain is a large, flat-topped area of land. On its west, Rays Hill is next to Tussey Mountain (south of Broad Top Mountain) and Rocky Ridge (north of Broad Top Mountain).
People sometimes call this mountain "Rays Hill" and sometimes "Wrays Hill." If you are north of Broad Top Mountain, you will usually hear it called "Wrays." If you are south, it is usually "Rays."
This mountain ridge forms a border between Bedford and Fulton counties. These counties are in south-central Pennsylvania. Rays Hill also stretches northward into Huntingdon County.
Part of the Buchanan State Forest is located on Rays Hill. This forest is a protected area where people can enjoy nature.
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Tunnels on Rays Hill
Rays Hill is known for its old tunnels. These tunnels were built for transportation.
Rays Hill Turnpike Tunnel
The southern part of Rays Hill has the Rays Hill Tunnel. This tunnel was once part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a major highway. However, this tunnel is now one of the abandoned tunnels. This means it is no longer used by cars.
Wrays Hill Railroad Tunnel
The northern part of the mountain has the Wrays Hill Tunnel. This tunnel was built for trains. It was part of the East Broad Top Railroad. This railroad was important for moving coal and other goods.
How Rays Hill Was Formed
Mountains like Rays Hill are formed over millions of years. The rocks that make up Rays Hill help us understand its history.
Rock Layers
Rays Hill is made mostly of a type of rock called the Pocono Formation. This rock formed during a time called the Mississippian period. The layers of this rock tilt down towards the southeast.
Below the Pocono Formation, on the northwest side of the mountain, you can find older rocks. These include the Rockwell Formation and the Catskill Formation. The Catskill Formation formed during the Devonian period.
Mountain Shape
Rays Hill and another nearby mountain called Town Hill form a special shape. They create what geologists call a syncline. A syncline is like a U-shaped fold in the rock layers. The bottom of the "U" is where the youngest rocks are found. This folding happened over a very long time. It shaped the mountains we see today.
