Allegheny Plateau
This expanse of land covers
about 60% of Pennsylvania. By
definition, a
plateau
is an
elevated area of land that can
be quite level in elevation. By
level, this does not mean that a
plateau is a plain. Plateaus are
higher in elevation and contain
different landforms, such as
hills, gorges, valleys, ridges, and
mountains. Elevations can range
in the Allegheny Plateau from
700 to 2,500 feet.
The Allegheny Plateau covers
almost the entire western part of our state.
It sweeps through northern Pennsylvania and
curves around the northeast corner. The
beautiful
PoconoMountains
, located in
northeastern Pennsylvania, are part of the
Allegheny Plateau. This area reachesmore
than 2,000 feet in elevation. It has become a
popular attraction spot for vacationers.
Now, locate Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh, the 2nd largest city in our state, is
located in the Allegheny Plateau. Pittsburgh is
known as the “three rivers city.” That is because the
Allegheny
and
Monongahela Rivers
flow through the
rugged landscape. These two riversmerge at
Pittsburgh to form the
Ohio River.
Traveling 50miles southeast of the city, you
will find several lower, rugged ridges known as the
Laurel Highlands
. They are located on the western
side of the Allegheny Mountains. Like the Pocono
Mountains, this area is a popular tourist attraction.
Now, let’s bounce to our last landform region.
The Lake Erie Plain
Continuing on our diagonal line across the
state, tucked in the northwest corner of
Pennsylvania lies the Erie Plain. Like the Atlantic
Coastal Plain, this landform is very narrow. It
stretches only 4miles inland from the
Lake Erie
shoreline. Its soil is quite fertile, making it
suitable for farming activities, such as orchards
and vineyards. The city of Erie, the 4th largest city
in our state, has a deep water port for shipping
goods among the
Great Lakes
.
L
ET
’
S
R
EVIEW
1. Name and locate the five regions of Pennsylvania.
2. Write three sentences describing how the five regions
are different.
3. Which three regions are home to fertile soil suitable
for farming?
4. Which region contains several named valleys and
mountain ranges?
5. More than half of our state is contained within this
region.
6. Name our state’s two deep water ports, and the
regions where they are located.
The Lake Erie Plain is our smallest region,
and its fertile soil is home tomany orchards
and vineyards.
Ricketts Glen State Park is located in Luzerne and Sullivan
Counties in the Allegheny Plateau. The park is a popular spot for
hiking, camping, and other outdoor recreation, and is home to 22
named waterfalls.
10
Understanding Pennsylvania
