The Bear Pond Mountains are a subrange in the Appalachian Mountains, that straddle Pennsylvania and Maryland in the United States. These mountains are a part of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians and reach their highest point at Cross Mountain (Pennsylvania) 2,062 feet (628 m). A unique geologic feature known as the "Punchbowl" occurs in this range. This feature was created by the weathered shales of the Ordovician age in the center of a south-plunging anticline, having been eroded to expose a large amphitheater-like feature (punchbowl). Cross and Hearthstone Mountain are made of hard resistant quartzite of the Tuscarora Formation of the Silurian age, which form the walls of the bowl.
| Bear Pond Mountains | |
|---|---|
 From left to right: Kasies Knob, Two Top and Cross Mountain. | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Cross Mountain |
| Elevation | 2,062 ft (628 m) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Region(s) | Pennsylvania, Maryland, |
| Range coordinates | 39°43′02″N 77°58′30″W / 39.71715°N 77.97509°W |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alleghenian |
| Rock age | Ordovician |
Whitetail Ski Resort is also located in this range on Two Top Mountain.
The chief summits of the Bear Pond Mountains are the following:
- Cross Mountain (Pennsylvania) 2,062 feet (628 m)
- Hearthstone Mountain 2,021 feet (616 m)
- Two Top Mountain 1,780 feet (543 m)
- Mount Mollica 1,776 feet (541 m)
- Mount Fallon 1,764 feet (537 m)
- Kasie's Knob 1,760 feet (536 m)
- Fairview Mountain 1,690 feet (515 m)
- Gillian's Knob 1,575 feet (480 m)
- Bullskin Mountain 1,551 feet (473 m)
- Rickard Mountain 1,550 feet (472 m)
- Powell Mountain 1,548 feet (472 m)
- Sword Mountain 1,500 feet (457 m)
- Abe Mills Mountain 1,376 feet (419 m)
- Johnson Mountain 1,140 feet (347 m)
See also
editReferences
editAlan R. Geyer (1979) "Outstanding Geologic Features of Pennsylvania", Geological Survey of Pennsylvania
- "Latitude and Longitude from TopoQuest". TopoQuest.com.