South Mountain (eastern Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Mountain |
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Womelsdorf Benchmark |
| Elevation | 1,380 ft (420 m) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| Parent range | Appalachian Highlands |
| Biome | Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Grenville orogeny |
| Age of rock | Proterozoic eon and about 570 to 1,600 million years ago |
| Type of rock | Crystalline metamorphic rock and gneiss |
South Mountain is a cool mountain range in Pennsylvania, USA. It stretches across several counties like Berks, Lancaster, and Lebanon. This mountain is also known by other names, such as Texter Mountain or Reading Hills. Geologists, who study rocks and the Earth, call it the Reading Prong.
The name South Mountain is used for the peaks in the southern part of the range. It also refers to the northern end, where Lehigh University is built. This mountain borders towns like Emmaus and Allentown.
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What is South Mountain?
South Mountain is part of a larger mountain system called the Appalachian Mountains. It is a continuation of the New England province and the southern end of the Hudson Highlands. Unlike some other mountains, it doesn't follow a perfectly straight line.
How High is South Mountain?
The elevation of South Mountain ranges from about 500 to 1,300 feet (150 to 400 meters) above sea level. The highest point is called Womelsdorf Benchmark, reaching 1,380 feet.
What is South Mountain Made Of?
The rocks that make up South Mountain are very old. They are called metamorphic rocks and gneiss. These rocks formed a very long time ago, between 570 and 1,600 million years ago. That's even before dinosaurs existed!
Nature and Views
Much of the northern part of South Mountain is still wild and undeveloped. This is thanks to efforts to protect its natural beauty. Its steep slopes make it a great place to see amazing views.
From the mountain, you can look out over the Lehigh Valley. At night, you can see the sparkling city lights of Allentown. The southern part of the mountain also offers views of Blue Mountain to the north. You can also see Mount Penn and the city of Reading to the east.
What's on the Mountain?
In the past, the southern peaks of South Mountain were home to many special health resorts. Today, most of these are no longer open.
South Mountain is also an important site for local communication. It hosts the transmitters for many radio and television stations. For example, TV station WFMZ-TV 69 has both its broadcast tower and its studio on the mountain.
