Tuscarora Mountain facts for kids
Tuscarora Mountain is a long, narrow mountain range found in central Pennsylvania. It's part of the much larger Appalachian Mountains, specifically a section called the Ridge and Valley province. This area is known for its many parallel ridges and valleys, almost like waves in the land.
The highest point on Tuscarora Mountain is called Big Mountain (Pennsylvania). It stands tall at 2,458 feet (749 m) above sea level. The mountain gets its name from the Tuscarora people, a Native American tribe.
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Where is Tuscarora Mountain?
Tuscarora Mountain stretches from the northeast to the southwest.
- It begins near the Juniata River at a town called Millerstown in the north.
- It ends near Cowans Gap in the south, where it meets another mountain called Cove Mountain.
- For part of its length, Tuscarora Mountain forms a natural boundary between Fulton County and Franklin County in Pennsylvania.
What's on the Mountain?
Much of Tuscarora Mountain is covered by Pennsylvania State Game Lands 124. These are special areas managed by the state for wildlife and outdoor activities like hunting and hiking.
Traveling Through the Mountain
Just north of Cowans Gap, a major highway called the Pennsylvania Turnpike goes right through the mountain. To do this, it uses a special tunnel called the Tuscarora Mountain Tunnel. Tunnels like this help cars and trucks travel easily through mountains instead of having to drive over them.
How Was the Mountain Formed?
From a geology point of view, Tuscarora Mountain is strong because of a type of rock called the Tuscarora Formation. This is a very hard and tough sandstone. Over millions of years, softer rocks around it wore away, but the strong Tuscarora Formation remained, forming the high ridge we see today.
