UNIT 1

What is

Geography?

The term geography comes from the Greek word geographia and means “Earth's description.” Geography is the science of studying Earth as the home of humans. Geography helps us understand ourselves, the places where we live, our relationships with the natural environment, and our interdependence with other places and people in the United States and throughout the world. Studying West Virginia's geography helps us answer such questions as why the earliest inhabitants lived in certain areas of the state, why later settlers moved to particular areas, how the location of a town affects its economy, and even why department stores carry certain kinds of clothing.

The first step in understanding geography is learning the meaning of the term. But there is much more that you need to understand in order to become a “geographically informed person.” To become proficient in the Geography Standard for West Virginia Studies, you must be able to

interpret and choose maps, globes and other geographic tools to categorize and organize information about personal directions, people, places and environments (The World in Spatial Terms)

examine the physical and human characteristics of place and examine how the lives of people are rooted in places and regions (Places and Regions)

analyze the physical processes that shape the earth's surface and create, sustain and modify the cultural and natural environment (Physical Systems)

analyze and illustrate how the earth is shaped by the movement of people and their activities (Human Systems)

analyze the interaction of society with the environment Environment and Society)

point out geographic perspective and the tools and assess techniques available for geographic study (Uses of Geography)

Keep these goals in mind as you study the two chapters in this unit. More specific objectives will provide you with opportunities to learn and apply these geographic concepts.

Left: Man-made satellites do many different things. Some monitor weather and climate; other tell us exactly where we are on Earth.

Background: View of Earth from outer space.

CHAPTER 1

The Geography of West Virginia

Geography is present in every aspect of our lives. Its five basic themes–location, place, human and environmental interaction, movement, and regions–provide a greater understanding and appreciation for the importance of geography in our past as well as in our future.

In this chapter, you will examine West Virginia in terms of the first four themes of geography. Because maps play an important role in studying geography, you will also have an opportunity to read and analyze a number of special purpose maps.

CHAPTER PREVIEW

TERMS

geography, relative location, absolute location, equator, latitude, prime meridian, longitude, panhandle, climate, weather, elevation, precipitation, drought, El Niño, La Niña, topography, erosion, tributary, extinct, surface mining

PLACES

Fairfax Stone, Mason-Dixon Line, Canaan Valley, Teays Valley, Ice Mountain, Hawks Nest, Blackwater Falls, Cathedral Falls, Smoke Hole Caverns

Signs of the Times

VITAL STATISTICS

Area of West Virginia: 24,231 square miles

Land area: 24,119 square miles

Inland water area: 112 square miles

Number of bordering states: 5

Number of counties: 55

Forested land: 80 percent

Population (2008): 1,814,468 (37th in the nation)

Boundary length: 1,180 miles

LOCATION

Latitude and longitude: Between 37°12’ and 40°38’ north

latitude and between 77°38’ and 82°55’ west longitude

Location within United States: East, South Atlantic Region

Geographical center of state: Elk River Public Hunting
Area in Braxton County

Miles from westernmost point to easternmost point: 265 miles

Miles from northernmost point to southernmost point: 237 miles

Opposite Page, Top: Maps are used to study geography.

Opposite Page, Bottom: The New River as seen from Hawks Nest Overlook in Fayette County.

Left: A compass is used to tell direction.

FOCUS ON
READING SKILLS

SQ3R

DEFINING THE SKILL

The reading material in social studies textbooks is usually structured and includes detailed information. Because of the amount of reading required, it is helpful to skim or read the material quickly in order to recall prior knowledge, locate specific information, and predict the content of the reading. SQ3R, which stands for survey, question, read, recite, and review, is a reading strategy that will help you do this.

PRACTICING THE SKILL

Practice the SQ3R strategy by skimming Section 1 of Chapter 1.

SURVEY: Before you read, survey the section to determine its title as well as the main idea found in the first paragraph.

QUESTION: After your survey, make a list of questions you think will be answered in the section.

READ: Read the section, noting any unfamiliar vocabulary words.

RECITE: Write the answers to any of the questions you posed in your survey. On a separate sheet of paper, write down the main ideas in the section and then summarize the section in your own words.

REVIEW: Finally, on a separate sheet of paper, rephrase your notes into questions. Then, answer your questions from memory.

NOTE: Continue to use the SQ3R reading skill before you read each of the other three sections in the chapter.

SECTION 1

West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful

Location

As you read, look for

the difference between absolute and relative location;

the difference between latitude and longitude;

the boundaries of West Virginia;

the size of West Virginia;

the population of West Virginia;

terms: relative location, absolute location, equator, latitude, prime meridian, longitude, panhandle.

One basic geographic skill is the ability to describe where a place is located. Location can be either relative or absolute. Relative location describes where a place is compared to other places. For example, Fairmont is located near Morgantown; Huntington is located about 50 miles west of Charleston; Martinsburg is northeast of Moorefield. You might tell someone where your school is located by saying that it is near a particular landmark or business.

Absolute location identifies a precise position on Earth's surface. For example, the Governor's Mansion is located at 1716 Kanawha Boulevard in Charleston. Your street address designates a local location and defines the absolute location of your home. We use maps and globes with special lines more precise than street addresses to find the absolute location of states or countries.

Something

Extra!

One degree of latitude covers about 69 miles (111 kilometers).

Latitude and Longitude

When you examine globes and some maps, you find lines that run east and west, side by side with the equator. (The equator is a line that goes around the globe halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.) These lines, called parallels, are used to describe latitude (the distance north (N) or south (S) of the equator).

The distances are measured in units called degrees. Degrees are identified by the symbol °. Since there is only one equator, there is only one line or parallel that is 0° latitude. The latitude of every other point must be some degree north or south of the equator, from 0° to 90°. The North Pole is located at 90°N latitude, and the South Pole is found at 90°S latitude.

Top: Compass rose.

Above: Street signs help to identify an absolute location.

Each degree can be divided into smaller measurements called minutes. Each degree contains 60 minutes. Minutes are identified by the symbol ’. West Virginia is located between 37°12’ and 40°38’ N latitude.

On the globe or map, you will also find lines that run from one pole to the other. These lines running north and south are called meridians. The starting point for the meridians is the prime meridian (a line running from the North Pole through Greenwich, England, and part of Africa to the South Pole). Meridians measure longitude, which tells how far east (E) or west (W) of the prime meridian a place is located. The prime meridian is located at 0° longitude. One-half of the world is measured in degrees of east longitude up to 180°, and the other half in degrees of west longitude up to 180°. West Virginia is located between 77°38’ and 82°55’ W longitude.

Map 1

West Virginia's

Latitude and

Longitude

Map Skill: What West
Virginia city is located at
38° 35' N latitude and 81°
63'W longitude?

West Virginia's Boundaries

West Virginia's relative location is also in the eastern United States, in the South Atlantic region. The state is bordered by five states–Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Its natural borders make it the most irregularly shaped, noncoastal state in the United States. The shape of the state is basically oval, but two panhandles add variety. A panhandle is a long, narrow strip of a larger territory. The eastern panhandle is bordered by Maryland on the north and Virginia on the south. The northern panhandle lies between Pennsylvania on the east and Ohio on the west.

Often called the “most northern of the southern states,” West Virginia's northern panhandle extends further north than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while its southern boundary is south of Richmond, Virginia.

Map 2

West Virginia's

Panhandles and

Borders

Map Skill: Which state
lies to the northwest of
West Virginia?

Left: Boundaries are typically identified by signage.

Map 3

West Virginia and

Major Metropolitan
Areas

Map Skill: How many
major cities are shown on
the map?

West Virginia has a number of natural boundaries, but some of its borders were the result of disputes with its neighbors. West Virginia's eastern and southern borders follow the Allegheny Mountains, while its western border is made up of rivers, including the Ohio, Big Sandy, and Tug Fork. Part of the border with Maryland follows the natural flow of the Potomac River. The U.S. Supreme Court settled the rest of that border in 1912 when it ruled that the Fairfax Stone was the starting point of the boundary between the two states. The Fairfax Stone, located at the headwaters of the North Branch of the Potomac River, marked the westernmost edge of the land granted to Lord Fairfax by English King Charles II. From the Fairfax Stone, the boundary runs due north to the Mason-Dixon Line, which marks part of West Virginia's northern border with Pennsylvania. The line that created the eastern boundary of the northern panhandle runs due north from the Mason-Dixon Line to the Ohio River.

West Virginia's Statistics

In all, West Virginia is a rather small state containing 24,231 square miles. The state ranks 41st of the 50 states in size. Almost 80 percent of its land is forested, while less than 1 percent of its area is covered with water. From east to west, its greatest width is 265 miles. Its greatest length from north to south is 237 miles. The state is conveniently located within 500 miles of a number of major population centers including Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2008, West Virginia had a population of 1,814,468 and ranked 37th in the nation in population. Between 2000 and 2008, the population of West Virginia increased 0.34 percent, while the population of the United States increased 6.4 percent.

Reviewing the Section

Reviewing the Content

How could you describe West Virginia's relative location to a friend?

What states border West Virginia?

What are the natural boundaries of West Virginia?

Using the Content

Write a brief paragraph describing the relative location of your home to your school.

Use Map 1 on page 8 to locate the latitude and longitude of other cities in West Virginia.

Extending the Reading Skill

List and define the five parts of the SQ3R reading skill. Which part best helped you understand the material in the section?

Above: West Virginia is the third most forested state in the nation.

SPECIAL FEATURE

West Virginia Hills

(Official Song) Words by Mrs. Ellen King, Music by H. E. Engle

Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how grand,
With their summits bathed in glory, Like our Prince Immanuel's Land!
Is it any wonder then, That my heart with rapture thrills,
As I stand once more with loved ones On those West Virginia hills?

Chorus:
Oh, the hills, beautiful hills, How I love those West Virginia hills!
If o'er sea o'er land I roam, Still I'll think of happy home,
And my friends among the West Virginia hills.

Oh, the West Virginia hills! Where my childhood hours were passed,
Where I often wandered lonely, And the future tried to cast;
Many are our visions bright, Which the future ne'er fulfills;
But how sunny were my daydreams On those West Virginia hills!

Chorus

Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchang'd they seem to stand,
With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty's Land!
Many changes I can see, Which my heart with sadness fills;
But no changes can be noticed In those West Virginia hills.

Chorus

Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu.
In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you;
In the evening time of life, If my Father only wills,
I shall still behold the vision Of those West Virginia hills.

Chorus

SECTION 2

West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful

Place

As you read, look for

characteristics of West Virginia's climate;

examples of erratic weather in West Virginia;

the natural wonders of West Virginia;

major rivers in West Virginia;

terms: climate, weather, elevation, vertical climate, precipitation, drought, topography, erosion, tributary.

Below: Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Pocahontas County.

Bottom: Greenbrier River Trail.

Events occur in a particular place. Usually, there are reasons why events happen where they do. To understand human events, you must first understand the physical characteristics of the places where the events occurred. Physical characteristics of a place include its climate, natural wonders, and bodies of water.

Climate

People sometimes confuse “climate” and “weather.” Climate refers to the average weather of a region over a long period of time. Weather refers to the day-to-day conditions and changes in the atmosphere. Weather extremes can produce devastating results–the destruction of property and the environment, injuries, and even deaths. While weather varies constantly, the climate of an area remains much the same. The climate of a region influences the types of homes built, the types of industries that develop, the clothing styles, and even what crops are grown.

West Virginia's climate is humid continental. This means that state residents experience four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Winters on the average are cold, while summers are hot. The lowest temperature ever recorded in West Virginia was -37°F (Fahrenheit) on December 30, 1917, at Lewisburg. The highest temperature was 112°F on July 10, 1936, at Martinsburg. The average January temperature is about 33°F, while the thermometer rises to an average 74°F in July. Annually, the average temperature is around 54°F.

The mountains of the state also influence temperatures. That is because the higher the elevation (the height of the land above sea level), the colder the temperature. This phenomenon, sometimes called vertical climate, explains why some areas of southern West Virginia are actually colder than areas farther north. The average 55°F temperature in Charleston is warmer than the average 50.9°F in Beckley, which is farther south. Beckley, however, is located in the mountains, while Charleston is in a valley. Morgantown averages warmer temperatures than Green Bank mainly because Green Bank has an elevation of 2,000 feet, while Morgantown's elevation is only 1,000 feet.

Most of the winds that carry water into the state come from the south and west. As water vapor rises and cools, it forms clouds. Once the clouds become saturated, precipitation falls in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The clouds lose most of their moisture while traveling over the eastern mountains. As a result, there is less precipitation in the eastern panhandle. However, rainfall is plentiful throughout the state, ranging from a low average of 32 inches a year in Hardy County to a high average of 60 inches in the mountains of Randolph County.

Top: The Trough runs through Hardy County.

Bottom: Bluestone Gorge at Pipestem State Park.

Map 4

West Virginia

Average January

Temperatures

Map Skill: What is
the average January
temperature of Wheeling?

Every area of the state gets snow, but the heaviest snowfalls occur in the higher, cooler elevations. Lesser amounts of snow are found in the southwest. Average snowfalls in the state measure 32.2 inches in Charleston, 25.7 inches in Huntington, 75 inches in Elkins, and 60.1 inches in Beckley. During the winter of 1995-1996, Elkins actually had 136.6 inches of snow. On January 27-28, 35 inches of snow fell in Flat Top (Mercer County) in a 24-hour period. Greater amounts are recorded in the ski-resort areas. Snowfall in Canaan Valley, for example, averages 150 inches.

Map 5

West Virginia

Average July

Temperatures

Map Skill: What is the
average July temperature of
Beckley?

Figure 1 Precipitation in West Virginia

West Virginia has experienced some very erratic weather in the last several years. Unprecedented rainfall has caused severe flooding and mudslides, leaving thousands of people homeless. On the other hand, the state experienced a drought (a prolonged period of dry weather) in 2007. August 2006 was the state's 11th hottest month during the 112-year period of record-keeping. During that time, the temperature averaged more than 4 degrees above normal in Charleston and Huntington.

Several explanations have been given to explain the unusual weather patterns. One involves El Niño (warmer-than-usual Pacific Ocean temperatures) and La Niña(colder-than-usual Pacific Ocean temperatures), which disrupt weather patterns throughout the world. West Virginia is no exception. According to the West Virginia State Climate Center, most of the state has a 15-30 percent decrease in total precipitation from January to March during an El Niño year. The state also experiences a 1.7-2.2 degree increase in normal temperature for November and December during an El Niño year.

Something

Extra!

With an average elevation of 1,500 feet, West Virginia is the “highest” state east of the Mississippi River.

Map 6

West Virginia

Average Annual

Precipitation

Map Skill: What is
the average annual
precipitation of
Charleston?

Natural Wonders

Climate has also affected the natural features of West Virginia. Winds and water have eroded and shaped the state's topography (physical features such as mountains or plateaus). Wind-driven rivers have cut through the Allegheny Plateau. In other places, topsoil has eroded so that only an outcropping of rock remains.

VALLEYS

West Virginia has a number of breathtakingly beautiful valleys that are also unique geographical areas. Canaan Valley in Tucker County was first explored by Europeans in the mid-1700s. Because of the area's natural beauty, those early explorers reportedly declared that it surely must be the Biblical land of Canaan. That name has been used ever since. Today, the area is home to the second-largest inland wetlands in the United States. A variety of wildlife, including deer, coyote, black bear, fox, beaver, wild turkey, and a large number of geese, ducks, and other birds may be seen here in their natural habitat.

Something

Extra!

Canaan Valley is believed to have been a lake at one time.

Above: The black bear is the state animal.

Teays Valley in Putnam County was named for early settler Stephen Teays. The valley was believed to have once been covered by the ancient Teays River, whose origin was near Falling Rock, North Carolina. The Teays River is thought to have been one of the largest rivers in North America. During the Ice Age, ice acted as a dam and turned the river into a lake. Water levels rose until they eventually overflowed and again formed a river. The river eventually found its way to the Ohio by way of the New River and the Kanawha Valley. After a second freeze and thaw, the river, now called the Kanawha, flowed to Point Pleasant, where it again joined the Ohio. Today the region is one of the fastest-growing areas in West Virginia. Located between the state's two largest cities, Charleston and Huntington, it has become home to those who wish to live in a more suburban environment.

WATERFALLS

West Virginia also contains many beautiful waterfalls. One of the best known is Blackwater Falls in Tucker County. The falls drop 65 feet into the Blackwater River and are easily accessible to tourists. Acids from decaying hemlocks and red spruce needles give the river its “black” appearance and name.

Above: Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County has a spectacular 65-foot waterfall that cascades into the Blackwater River.

The Falls of Hills Creek are nestled in the Monongahela National Forest. Hills Creek actually boasts three waterfalls. Upper Falls at 25 feet is the smallest; the Lower Falls, at 63 feet, is the second-highest waterfall in West Virginia. The water in Middle Falls cascades some 45 feet. The waters of Hills Creek descend some 200 feet between the upper and lower falls.

Other spectacular views can be seen at Sandstone Falls in Summers County. There, visitors can travel along a boardwalk from the shore of the New River to an observation deck below the falls. Cathedral Falls, located near Gauley Bridge in Fayette County, drops more than 60 feet in a series of falls and cascades. It is formed by Cane Branch, a tributary of the New River, as it descends over the Upper Nuttall sandstone formation. Seneca Falls arises in Seneca Creek, in Pendleton County. The upper section of Seneca Creek contains numerous waterfalls, the highest of which is Upper Seneca Falls at 30 feet.

Something

Extra!

Seneca Creek is a headwaters stream of the Potomac River; it drains Spruce Knob.

CAVES

West Virginia is a haven for spelunkers (those who like to explore caves). West Virginia has the fourth-highest number of caves in the United States and eleven of the world's fifty longest caves. It is believed that the state's many limestone caves were formed hundreds of millions of years ago by the flow of underground water. The caves were then pushed above sea level during the Ice Age, possibly the result of an ancient earthquake. The stalactites and stalagmites in the caves evolved over millions of years as water drops slowly deposited calcium carbonate. Stalactites hang like icicles from the roof of a cave, and stalagmites are like pillars rising from the cave floor.

Native Americans and early pioneers used the caves for shelter and natural refrigeration. In the twentieth century, they became tourist attractions. One such site is Organ Cave in Greenbrier County, which was discovered in 1704. In 1791, Thomas Jefferson visited the cave and reportedly came across dinosaur bones, which today are on display in Philadelphia. The cave may be best known for the part it played in the Civil War. Besides serving as a safe haven for Confederate soldiers, 1,100 of General Robert E. Lee's soldiers were known to have gathered there for religious services. More importantly, however, the cave was a source of saltpeter, a substance (potassium nitrate) used in the production of gunpowder. Visitors can examine a number of the original saltpeter hoppers that have been preserved.

Top: The Ice Cream Wall at Lost World Caverns is named for its creamy, white coloring.

Bottom: The War Club, a 28-foot stalagmite at Lost World Caverns, is estimated to be 500,000 years old.

In Pendleton County are Seneca Caverns, the largest of West Virginia's commercial caves. Seneca Caverns are almost 3 ½ miles long and extend 165 feet below Earth's surface at their deepest point. The Seneca Indians sought shelter in the caverns, which maintain a constant temperature of 54°F.

Before there was refrigeration, meat was smoked to keep it from spoiling. Legend has it that the Seneca Indians used caverns to store meat. Smoke venting from one such cave in Grant County caused it to be named Smoke Hole Caverns. The caverns there have been open to the public since 1942. Visitors have marveled at the “world's longest ribbon stalactite,” a limestone formation of overlapping ribbons weighing 2 ½ tons.

Lost World Caverns, in Greenbrier County, was discovered in 1942 by explorers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. Originally called Grapevine Cave because of the many grapevines that covered its opening, it received its present name when it opened to the public in 1970. Visitors to the cave can travel up to 120 feet below Earth's surface.

ROCK FORMATIONS

West Virginia also contains a number of natural rock formations. The oldest rock formations are found in the eastern part of the state. One of the oldest is the Trough, which is near Romney and got its name from the overhanging rocks found there. The South Branch of the Potomac River cuts through Hardy and Hampshire counties and flows seven miles through the Trough.

Top: The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center is a good place to start if you're interested in walking one of the trails.

Bottom: Seneca Rocks in Pendleton County is one of West Virginia's spectacular rock formations.

FOCUS ON 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

LEARNING SKILL

21C.O.5-8.1.LS.3 Student presents thoughts, ideas, and conceptual understanding efficiently, accurately and in a compelling manner and enhances the oral or written presentation through the use of technology.

TECHNOLOGY TOOL

21C.O.5-8.1.TT.5 Student uses advanced features and utilities of presentation software (e.g., design templates, design layouts (fonts/colors/ backgrounds) animation and graphics, inserting pictures, objects, movies, sound, charts, hyperlinks, and graphs) to create an original product.

Use a search engine to find information on and pictures of one type of natural feature found in West Virginia, for example, rivers, rock formations, caves. After completing the research, develop a minimal six-slide PowerPoint presentation to share with your classmates.

Another rock formation, Caudy's Castle (Castle Rock), towers 1,070 feet above sea level over the Cacapon River. It is named for James Caudy, an early Hampshire County pioneer and Indian fighter. In the 1730s, Caudy took refuge from a group of Indians on this mass of rocks overlooking the Cacapon River.

Below: Pinnacle Rock in Mercer County.

Bottom: Seneca Rocks is a 1,000-foot uplift of sandstone in Pendleton County.

Ice Mountain is a unique structure located in Hampshire County between Slanesville and Capon Bridge. Its 1,250-foot summit offers a panoramic view of the eastern panhandle. At one time, people thought that the mountain held an underground glacier. In reality, Ice Mountain has what geologists call a cold-producing slope. Water seeps into the mountain and freezes, and the sandstone insulates the ice so it does not thaw. The air that filters out from the 60 small holes at the mountain's base remains a constant 38 degrees all year. Because of the temperatures, plants that normally live at an elevation of 3,000-4,000 feet grow at the mountain's base elevation of 700 feet. Some of the plants around Ice Mountain include the Appalachian wood fern, nannyberry, skunk currant, starflower, and Canada mayflower. The area around Ice Mountain is such a fragile environment that rock climbing and rappelling are forbidden. In the past, ice could be seen on Ice Mountain into late May. Today, however, warming temperatures have caused the ice to disappear earlier. If this warming continues, the area's unique plants could be endangered.

West Virginia's rock formations are actually the result of erosion as well as freezing and thawing. Erosion is the gradual wearing down of the land or rock by wind and water. Seneca Rocks rise almost 1,000 feet above the confluence (the coming together) of Seneca Creek and the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River in Pendleton County. They were formed by the erosion of topsoil.

The erosion of Flat Top Mountain formed Mercer County's Pinnacle Rock, which looks like the ruins of a medieval castle. The rocky ridge of Peter's Mountain in Monroe County stretches for almost forty miles along the state's eastern border. One of the most spectacular natural rock formations is Hawks Nest in Fayette County. The formation was once known as Marshall's Pillar, named for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. Visiting the area in 1812, Marshall remarked on the fish hawks nesting in the area's high peaks.

Waterways

West Virginia has seven major river systems. The state's rivers either carry their waters east to the Atlantic Ocean or west to the Mississippi River and then south to the Gulf of Mexico. Of the seven river systems, one–the Potomac–drains toward the east. The other six–the Monongahela, Little Kanawha, Kanawha and New, Guyandotte, Big Sandy, and Ohio–drain west.

The Potomac, the North and South branches of the Potomac, and the Shenandoah rivers drain the eastern basin. A small group of streams located in Monroe County also drains to the east, ultimately emptying into the James River.

The Ohio River flows along the western border of the state for almost 280 miles, and all the western waters flow into this river. Four of the five largest tributaries of the Ohio–the Little Kanawha, Kanawha, Guyandotte, and Big Sandy–flow northwest. A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river. The Kanawha, the largest tributary, has its own branches, which include the New, Gauley, Elk, and Big Coal rivers. The fifth tributary of the Ohio–the Monongahela River–flows north to Pennsylvania, where it meets the Ohio at Pittsburgh. Branches of the Monongahela include the Cheat, Tygart, and West Fork rivers.

Above: Summersville Lake in Nicholas County provides a variety of recreational activities. In the spring and fall, water released from the lake enhances white-water rafting in the area.

Map 7

West Virginia's

Rivers and Lakes

Map Skill: Which river
forms Stonewall Jackson
Lake?

Three streams in West Virginia have headwaters (sources) that are within one-half mile of one another, near the intersection of Pendleton, Pocahontas, and Randolph counties. These streams begin about 4,000 feet above sea level. Melting winter snow and rainfall propel these three streams along a journey that can take snowflakes that fall within inches of one another on the same mountain to destinations separated by 1,500 miles. The source of the three streams is on the Allegheny Front, a steep mountain ridge that marks the dividing line between eastern and western West Virginia. East of the Front, the streams and rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean; west of the Front, the waters eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the streams begins on the Grassy Mountain side of the Front; the other two begin on the Allegheny Mountain side. The stream on the Grassy Mountain side–Elk Run–begins near 38°40’ N latitude and 79°37’ W longitude. Elk Run flows into Big Run, which flows into the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. From there, the water runs into the South Branch and the Potomac rivers, and then passes through the nation's capital. Then, it reaches the Chesapeake Bay and finally the Atlantic Ocean.

Above: The Ohio River is an important transportation route for West Virginia, in addition to being one of its borders.

Opposite Page: The Potomac River also serves as one of West Virginia's borders.

A ridge separates the two streams on the Allegheny Mountain side of the front. As a result, one stream flows north, the other south. The north-flowing stream begins at about 38°39’ N latitude and 79°38’ W longitude. Its water flows into Gandy Creek and continues down the mountain to Dry Fork, where it enters the Blackwater River. Still flowing northward, the water enters the Cheat and Monongahela rivers. When it reaches Pittsburgh, the Monongahela joins with the Allegheny River to form the Ohio, which flows southwest to the Mississippi River and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico.

The stream on the south side of the ridge also begins near 38°39’ N latitude and 79°38’ W longitude. Its water flows to Bennett Run, a tributary of the East Fork of the Greenbrier River. The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, which flows northwest to Gauley Bridge. There it joins other rivers to form the Kanawha. The Kanawha continues south through Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. When it finally reaches Point Pleasant, the Kanawha flows into the Ohio. It is ironic that the two neighboring streams, which might have begun as snow high in the Alleghenies, go their separate ways only to be reunited in the Ohio River. Once they are rejoined, they travel together down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

With so many rivers, it is difficult to believe that West Virginia has only one natural lake, Trout Pond in Hardy County. One explanation for this is that West Virginia escaped the Ice Age glacial period that carved lakes in other states. The state also lacks watershed basins, which cause lakes to form. Many lakes have been created, however, behind flood-control dams. These large man-made lakes provide many opportunities for recreation. Some of the larger lakes are Cheat Lake in Monongalia County, Stonewall Jackson Lake in Lewis County, Bluestone Lake in Summers County, and Summersville Lake in Nicholas County.

Reviewing the Section

Reviewing the Content

What type climate does West Virginia have?

What were early caves used for?

Name the seven river systems found in West Virginia.

Using the Content

Write a description of the place where you live (a town, street, rural area) using examples of the physical characteristics (climate, rock formations, rivers, waterfalls, caves) that are found there.

Extending the Reading Skill

When you used the SQ3R strategy in Section 2, what did you list in your survey that helped you understand the information found there?

Something

Extra!

Trout Pond was created by a sinkhole that filled with water from the streams coming from Long Mountain.

SECTION 3

West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful

Human/Environmental Interaction

As you read, look for

the definition of human/environmental interaction;

how geography affects industrial growth;

results of human/environmental interaction;

reasons people move from place to place;

terms: extinct and surface mining.

The geographic theme of human/environmental interaction describes how humans use, affect, and are affected by their environment. For example, animals like the American bison, wolf, and elk once thrived in West Virginia. Then, men began hunting the animals for food and hides. Some time later, the Virginia government began paying a bounty (a reward or payment) for dead wolves. Because of these human interventions, these animals are now extinct (do not exist) in the state.

The Environment and Industrial Growth

Over the years, geography has dictated where people live as well as how they make a living. Three major industries in West Virginia were created because unique geographic conditions exist in the state. The industrial growth and success of these industries, however, have also been responsible for changing the very environment that supported their creation.

The central and southern regions of West Virginia contain valuable supplies of coal. Geographical conditions caused the coal to develop where it did. Humans, however, had to alter the natural surroundings somewhat in order to make mining the mineral profitable. Although there were some settlements in the area before coal became important, the lack of roads and navigable streams delayed the region's development. It was not until the coming of the railroad in the mid- to late 1800s that the area began to grow and become economically successful. Building the roads and railroads changed the look of the region. What was once fertile, unspoiled land was soon covered with houses, churches, schools, and stores to meet the needs of the many people who came to work in the mines or on the railroad.

Above: This coal processing plant is at Elk Run.

As mining became more and more profitable, some companies began to look for an easier way to extract the coal that was near Earth's surface. The result was surface mining, or “strip mining” as it is commonly called. This type of mining actually strips the land, uproots trees, destroys land, and pollutes streams, increasing the potential for erosion and flooding. Today, companies engaged in surface mining must restore the land when they are finished. In some instances, the area is actually left in better condition than before it was mined.

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Extra!

Coal is sometimes referred to as “black gold.”

West Virginia's geographic conditions also made it a natural site for the expansion of the chemical industry. The state contained almost limitless quantities of five of the six elements needed for the production of chemicals. Five of these elements are carbon from coal, hydrogen from water, oxygen and nitrogen from the air, and chlorine from salt brines. Sulfur, the sixth element, was easily obtained from surrounding states. The availability of these elements as well as an abundance of natural gas were major factors in Union Carbide's decision to locate in the state. Other chemical companies followed Union Carbide's lead, and soon the Kanawha Valley became known as “the Chemical Valley of the World.”

The development of the chemical industry caused changes in the state's natural environment. Sometimes chemical waste was accidentally or deliberately poured into the state's rivers and streams, killing wildlife and making some waterways unfit for human use. Sometimes the chemical waste was dumped or buried, causing soil pollution that has left some land unusable. Sometimes chemical leaks and the machinery used to make the chemicals polluted the air, endangering the lives of those nearby. Although the chemical industry has brought economic growth and prosperity to the state, it has, like the coal industry, endangered the environment at times.

Top: These early 1900s miners changed the natural environment to remove the coal.

Above: The Army Corps of Engineers diverted the New River, leading to the Hawks Nest Tunnel Tragedy.

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Extra!

The most popular hardwood tree in West Virginia is the red oak.

The lumber industry provides a final example of human/environmental interaction. Because West Virginia is heavily forested, it was only a matter of time before someone recognized the economic potential of its rich timberlands. When the first white men came into the area, the entire state was covered with natural forests containing some of the finest hardwoods in the eastern United States.

The first trees were cut to provide building material for houses and wood for fuel. As settlers began to produce food for sale or trade, they needed wood to make the boats to carry those products to market. The growth of the lumber industry continued as railroads made their way into the state in the mid-1800s.

The increased demand for lumber brought about the need for more and better mills. Lumbering brought other industries to the state; pulp mills and tanneries are two examples. Both of these industries brought jobs and economic growth, but not without a price. In 1805, stagnant water associated with the tanning industry created the right conditions for the outbreak of a fever that killed a number of people in the eastern panhandle town of Bath. Today, controversy swirls around the construction of pulp mills. Opponents claim toxic chemicals from the mills pollute the surrounding waterways.

Changing the Environment

Not all human/environmental interaction has produced bad results. Sometimes changes in the natural environment are beneficial. In their natural state, the Ohio River and its West Virginia tributaries often flooded during rainy seasons. At other times, the rivers were so low that boats had to wait, sometimes for weeks, before they could reach their intended destinations. To address this problem, floodwalls and dams were built on West Virginia's smaller rivers. Some of these dams include those on the Tygart, Bluestone, Elk, and Gauley rivers. The reservoirs created by the dams not only provided a way to control the level of water in the rivers, but also formed lakes that could be used for recreational purposes.

Floodwalls, like the one completed in 1996 in Matewan, have also been built to protect areas from flooding. Before the construction of that floodwall, Matewan experienced four floods in a one-month period in 1953, as well as major floods in 1977 and 1984. The floodwall, which is 2,350 feet long and between 6 and 29 feet high, should protect the town from future flooding. The floodwall, which contains murals depicting the history of Matewan, also serves as a tourist attraction.

Bottom: West Virginia's vast forests led to the growth of the timber industry.

Reviewing the Section

Reviewing the Content

What is meant by human/environmental interaction?

Name three industries that grew up in West Virginia because of geographic conditions that existed in the state.

How has human intervention changed the natural environment of West Virginia?

Using the Content

Write a letter to one of your state legislators about an environmental concern and offer a possible solution.

Extending the Reading Skill

When you used the SQ3R strategy before reading Section 3, what questions did you write? How did your questions compare with the questions in your textbook at the end of the section?

HISTORY BY THE HIGHWAY

SALT SAND

Salt sands are found in many parts of West Virginia. At least seven highway markers identify their existence in Cabell, Fayette, Monongalia, Tucker, and Preston counties. In Preston County, the Homewood Sandstone forms the crest of Laurel Mountain. This marker is near Hawks Nest State Park in Fayette County.

SECTION 4

West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful

Movement

As you read, look for

reasons people move from place to place.

The geographic theme of movement focuses on the ways people are linked with regions, cultures, and other people beyond their immediate environment. These linkages may be the result of travel, trade, communication, or even immigration. Patterns of movement can be seen in exploration, trade routes, settlement, migration, and invasion.

Geographic conditions greatly affected where people traveled as well as where they settled. Early humans migrated from place to place in search of food, water, and security. Explorers were sent out to look for gold and silver and for a shorter route to the Far East.

Because the mountains were a tremendous obstacle, the first European explorers investigated the easiest routes. River valleys and gaps through the mountains provided access to the interior, influencing what areas were actually explored and charted. The first white settlers in western Virginia came to the eastern panhandle, where an extension of the Valley of Virginia made their movement into the area easier.

Above: Settlers crossed the eastern mountains in wagons to move into western Virginia.

Bottom: This photograph of the Valley of the Potomac illustrates why it was a popular route for settlers moving west.

Opposite Page, Top: After the middle of the 1800s trains moved people and goods.

Later, as people came to the area to make their homes, they followed many of the same paths that the explorers did. The need to find fertile land and sources of food also influenced their movement. As more and more settlers came, the later arrivals found the best farmland already taken by those who had preceded them. As a result, they had to push farther into unexplored territory.

By the time humans learned how to control geographical conditions, economic opportunities affected movement. Some people moved to be near jobs, while others moved to get away from heavily populated centers. In modern society, transportation and communication networks provide for the continued movement of goods, people, and ideas. Movement promotes the spread of ideas and technological innovations as well as goods.

Reviewing the Section

Reviewing the Content

Describe several geographic conditions that affect movement.

How do economic activities affect movement?

Using the Content

Pretend you have just moved to your current house. Write a letter to a fictional friend from the fictional town where you lived previously describing how the move has been good for you and your family. Include information on living in a different house, making new friends, attending a new school, seeing new sights, and so on.

Extending the Reading Skill

The last two parts of the SQ3R strategy are recite and review. Exchange the questions you wrote for Section 4 with another student in the class. Read and answer the questions that were written by the other student and allow him or her to read and answer yours. Were your questions similar or different?

WEST VIRGINIA PORTRAITS

James Caudy

James Caudy arrived in the Cacapon Valley in the early 1730s. He acquired hundreds of acres of land in what was then Frederick County, Virginia (now Hampshire County, West Virginia). His original land grant was 350 acres. Eventually, Caudy increased his holdings to include land in Great Cacapon, Dillon's Run, McCoy's Ridge, and Timber Ridge.

Caudy and a number of other early settlers petitioned the Frederick County Court to build a road to connect Cape Capon to a mill owned by Noah Hampton. The road was to serve Caudy's Fort and Caudy's Castle (Castle Rock)—a natural rock formation. In 1744, the court approved the road and told those who had petitioned for it to clear the land and construct the road. Caudy was appointed to serve as the surveyor for the project. Caudy even knew George Washington, who surveyed land in the area for Lord Fairfax, and he played host to one of Washington's exploring parties upon their return in 1755 from an expedition into the Ohio Valley.

Caudy was also a recognized Indian fighter. It is reported that he once fought a band of fifteen Indians single-handedly at Caudy's Castle (Castle Rock). According to the story, Caudy threw the Indians, one by one, off the 450-foot cliff into the Cacapon River.

By 1761, Caudy had married the widow of James McCoy. The marriage, however, resulted in a dispute. Caudy believed that, when he married McCoy's widow, he would inherit 369 acres of land that had been granted to James McCoy. Another man, John Capper, claimed to have purchased the land from McCoy before his death. However, Capper could not prove his claim since he did not have a deed or a legal transfer. The dispute led to a feud between Caudy and Capper. Eventually, Lord Fairfax had to settle the dispute. After listening to both sides, Fairfax decided to divide the land—awarding Caudy 165 acres and Capper 204 acres. Caudy later deeded his share of the land to Michael Capper, son of John Capper. Michael, however, lost the land when he could not pay his taxes.

Caudy died around 1783. In his will, he gave all his remaining land to the widow of his son, John Caudy. Caudy is buried on private property near the Cacapon River. A fence around the gravesite was built by members of the Capon Bridge Ruritan, a local community service organization.

CHAPTER 1

Chapter Summary

Section 1 Location

West Virginia's location can be described in terms of absolute location and relative location.

Latitude and longitude are used to describe absolute location.

West Virginia is bordered by five states: Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

West Virginia's natural boundaries include the Allegheny Mountains and the Potomac, Ohio, Big Sandy, and Tug Fork rivers.

West Virginia's man-made borders include the Fairfax Stone and Mason-Dixon Line.

Section 2 Place

West Virginia's climate is humid continental.

The mountainous regions have colder temperatures than the valleys.

Most of the state's precipitation comes from the south and west.

West Virginia has experienced erratic weather, including flooding and droughts.

West Virginia's climate has been affected by El Niño and La Niña.

Climate has influenced the natural features of West Virginia.

West Virginia's valleys include Canaan Valley and Teays Valley.

Waterfalls in West Virginia include Blackwater Falls, Falls of Hills Creek, Sandstone Falls, Cathedral Falls, and Seneca Falls.

Early pioneers used caves for shelter and natural refrigeration. West Virginia's caves include Organ Cave, Smoke Hole Caverns, Seneca Caverns, and Lost World Caverns.

Rock formations in West Virginia include Caudy's Castle, Ice Mountain, Seneca Rocks, Pinnacle Mountain, Peter's Mountain, and Hawks Nest.

West Virginia has seven major river systems. One–the Potomac–drains east, while the other six–Monongahela, Little Kanawha, Kanawha and New, Guyandotte, Big Sandy, and Ohio–drain west.

The Ohio River flows along the western border of the state for almost 280 miles. The Kanawha is the largest tributary of the Ohio River.

West Virginia has only one natural lake. Major man-made lakes in West Virginia include Cheat Lake, Stonewall Jackson Lake, Bluestone Lake, and Summersville Lake.

Section 3 Human/Environmental Interaction

Humans have altered the natural environment.

Hunting has caused the extinction of some animals in West Virginia.

Geographical conditions supported coal mining, lumbering, and chemical industries in West Virginia.

Surface mining has changed the face of the Mountain State.

Beneficial results of human/environmental interaction include building dams to reduce the threat of flooding and create recreational activities.

Section 4 Movement

Movement results from travel, trade, communication, and immigration and from the search for food, water, jobs, and security.

Good transportation routes make movement easier.

Early settlers followed transportation routes that had been used by early explorers.

Today, movement includes the spread of ideas and technological innovations as well as goods.

CHAPTER 1

Chapter Review

Understanding the Facts                images

What are four of the five themes of geography?

What part of West Virginia's border with Maryland was established by the U.S. Supreme Court?

What are some characteristics of West Virginia's climate?

How does elevation affect temperature and precipitation?

What has caused most of the rock formations in West Virginia?

How many natural lakes does West Virginia have?

Give an example of a human/environmental interaction that resulted in an improved condition.

Why was the eastern panhandle the first area of West Virginia to be settled?

What are some reasons people move?

Developing Critical Thinking                images

Is West Virginia's location an advantage or a disadvantage? Give reasons for your answer.

Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast longitude and latitude.

How can prolonged droughts negatively impact the state's economy and its individual citizens?

Copy the following graphic organizer on a plain piece of paper. Draw a picture of West Virginia in the center box. Write one fact about West Virginia's location that you did not know in each of the boxes located in the four corners.

How does West Virginia's climate affect the clothes you buy?

Do you think human/environmental interaction has been good or bad for West Virginia? Give reasons for your answer.

Why do you think environmental issues are discussed more openly today than in the past?

Beyond the Textbook                images

Find a picture of a “place” near where you live. Mount the picture on a piece of construction paper, and identify natural wonders found there that help to define the place.

Interview someone who has recently moved—to a different house, a different state—to find the reason(s) for the move. Then, with the rest of the class, make a graph from the data of all the interviews.

Writing Across the Curriculum                images

Choose one of the natural wonders—valleys, waterfalls, caves, rock formations, waterways—mentioned in the chapter. Write a descriptive essay using your five senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and tasting) to describe the place you choose.

Extending 21st Century Skills                images

There are all sorts of long-held folklore about the weather. Use your favorite search engine and the words “weather folklore” to locate three or four interesting beliefs about weather that are part of folklore. Then, determine through observations, interviews, or additional web searches if any of these beliefs are actually true.

Go to website www.classbrain.com/artstate/publish/WestVirginia_state_songs.shtml or use a search engine to find and read the words of the three official West Virginia state songs. Then, use a triple Venn diagram to list similarities and differences among the three.

WESTEST 2 Review                images

Certain characteristics are associated with the four themes of geography discussed in this chapter. Look at the chart below. Based on your knowledge, choose the geographical theme in Column B that matches the criteria in Column A. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Column A: Criteria
Column B: Geographical Theme

1. Building dams | A. Location
2. Job opportunities and travel | B. Place
3. Climate and waterways | C. Human/Environmental Interaction
4. Latitude and longitude | D. Movement

Which geographical theme does Criteria 1 describe?

Which geographical theme does Criteria 2 describe?

Which geographical theme does Criteria 3 describe?

Which geographical theme does Criteria 4 describe?