South Mountain is a long mountain ridge in Maryland and Pennsylvania which comprises a northern extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountain begins near Knoxville, Maryland on the Potomac River and extends north, then northeast into Pennsylvania, ending near the town of Dillsburg, for a total length of approximately 70 miles. The elevation of the ridgetop varies from 1,100 to 2,100 feet above sea level. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses the entire length of the mountain's crest. Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shinning Rock Wilderness Area Blue Ridge Mountains (NPS) Most of the rocks that form the Blue Ridge Mountains, United States, are ancient granitic and metamorphosed volcanic formations, some exceeding one billion years in age. ... The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... Dillsburg is a borough located in York County, Pennsylvania. ... The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail, is a 2,174 mile (3500 km) marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. ...

Geography

South Mountain begins at the Potomac River as a low, narrow ridge, barely one mile wide and only 1,200 feet above sea level at its crest. Beyond the Potomac River in Virginia, the ridge continues as Short Hill Mountain for about 12 miles before subsiding near the town of Hillsboro, Virginia. South Mountain in Maryland gradually grows higher and wider towards the north. Near the Pennsylvania border, the mountain merges with the hills of the parallel Catoctin Mountain range to the east and becomes more like a low mountain range than a single crest. Quirauk Mountain, the highest point on South Mountain at 2,150 feet above sea level, is found in this part of northern Maryland. North of U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania, the South Mountain highlands reach their greatest width, over 12 miles, and several more summits top 2,000 feet. The mountain then turns more to the east and becomes a series of small rocky hills between Mount Holly Springs and the northeastern end of the mountain at Dillsburg. Hillsboro is a town located in Loudoun County, Virginia. ... Catoctin Mountain extends 37 miles (60 km) running northeast southwest through Frederick County, Maryland and Loudoun County, Virginia. ... U.S. Route 30 is an east-west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways. ... Mount Holly Springs is a borough located in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. ...

Role in American Civil War

The Battle of South Mountain was an 1862 battle in the American Civil War fought near the southern end of the range. In Pennsylvania, South Mountain passes close to the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. Numerous small skirmishes were fought on South Mountain during the Gettysburg Campaign, including a fight at Monterey Gap that delayed Federal pursuit of Robert E. Lee's army as it withdrew from Gettysburg. Battle of South Mountain Conflict American Civil War Date September 14, 1862 Place Frederick County and Washington County Result Union victory The Battle of South Mountain was a battle of the American Civil War, considered by some to be prelude to the Battle of Antietam. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Civil War is by far the most common term for this conflict; see Naming the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America Commanders George G. Meade Robert E. Lee Strength 83,289 75,054 Casualties 23,049 (3,155 killed, 14,529 wounded, 5,365 captured/missing) 28,000 (3,500 killed, 18,000 wounded, 6,500 captured/missing) The Battle of... Meade and Lee of Gettysburg Gettysburg Campaign (through July 3); cavalry movements shown with dashed lines. ... For the author of Inherit the Wind and other works, see Robert Edwin Lee. ...

Major summits on South Mountain

Maryland

From south to north:

• Lambs Knoll, 1,758 feet (536 meters) above sea level
• Monument Knob, 1,540 ft (470 m)
• Pine Knob, 1,714 ft (522 m)
• Quirauk Mountain, 2,150 ft (655 m) - highest point on South Mountain in Maryland

A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) A metre or meter[1] (symbol: m) is a unit of length and the current base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ...

Pennsylvania

From south to north, then east:

• Mount Dunlop, 1,720 ft (524 m)
• Monterey Peak, 1,663 ft (507 m)
• Wildcat Rocks, 1,772 ft (540 m)
• Virginia Rock, 1,818 ft (554 m)
• Buzzard Peak/Chimney Rocks, 1,946 ft (593 m)
• Snowy Mountain, 2,090 ft (637 m)
• Green Ridge, 1,980 ft (604 m)
• Mount Newman, 1,784 ft (544 m)
• Piney Mountain, 1,904 ft (580 m)
• Big Pine Flat Ridge, 2,100 ft (640 m) - highest point on South Mountain in Pennsylvania
• Big Flat Ridge, 2,065 ft (629 m)
• East Big Flat Ridge, 2,070 ft (631 m)
• Mount Holly, 1,504 ft (458 m)
• Long Mountain, 1,583 ft (483 m)
• Center Point Knob, 1,075 ft (328 m)
• White Rocks, 1,105 ft (337 m)^[1]

Gaps in South Mountain

Maryland

From south to north:

• Crampton Gap, 930 ft (283 m), between Burkittsville and Gapland
• Fox Gap, 1,070 ft (326 m), between Middletown and Boonsboro, site of death of Union General Jesse L. Reno during the Battle of South Mountain
• Turners Gap, 1,071 ft (326 m), between Middleton and Boonsboro, traversed by Alternate U.S. Route 40
• Unnamed gap traversed by Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40, 1,250 ft (381 m)
• Harman Gap, 1,570 ft (479 m), east of Cavetown

Burkittsville is a town located in Frederick County, Maryland. ... Middletown is a town located in Frederick County, Maryland. ... Boonsboro is a town located in Washington County, Maryland. ... Jesse Lee Reno (April 20, 1823 – September 14, 1862) was a Union general in the American Civil War, killed at the Battle of South Mountain. ... Battle of South Mountain Conflict American Civil War Date September 14, 1862 Place Frederick County and Washington County Result Union victory The Battle of South Mountain was a battle of the American Civil War, considered by some to be prelude to the Battle of Antietam. ... U.S. Highway 40 is an east-west United States highway. ... Interstate 70 (abbreviated I-70) is a long interstate highway in the United States. ... U.S. Highway 40 is an east-west United States highway. ... Cavetown is a census-designated place located in Washington County, Maryland. ...

Pennsylvania

From south to north:

• Community of Blue Ridge Summit, 1,330 ft (405 m), traversed by Pennsylvania Route 16
• Height of land on U.S. Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), 1,380 ft (421 m), between Gettysburg and Chambersburg

Blue Ridge Summit is a town in southeastern Pennsylvania, located at 39. ... U.S. Route 30 is an east-west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways. ... Lincoln Highway bridge in Tama, Iowa The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the United States. ... Gettysburg is a borough 38 miles (68 km) south by southwest of Harrisburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA, of which it is the county seatGR6. ... Chambersburg is a borough located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. ...

State reservations on South Mountain

Maryland

From south to north:

• Gathland State Park, Crampton Gap
• Washington Monument State Park, near Boonsboro
• Greenbrier State Park, near Boonsboro

Front view of the Washington Monument located in the Washington Monument State Park in Washington County, Maryland. ... Boonsboro is a town located in Washington County, Maryland. ...

Pennsylvania

From south to north:

• Michaux State Forest, covering most of the mountain
• Caledonia State Park, east of Fayetteville
• Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Michaux State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #1. ... Caledonia State Park is a state park of Pennsylvania, located between Chambersburg and Gettysburg. ... Fayetteville is a census-designated place located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. ...

References

1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey 7½ topographic maps