Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern (southeastern) edge of the Appalachian mountain range in Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions. To its northwest side are the southern and central mountains and valleys, the "coal region", and the Poconos. To its southeast side are the Cumberland Valley, the "capital region", Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the Lehigh Valley.

Water Gaps

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Four of Pennsylvania's major rivers cut through Blue Mountain.

• The Delaware River, which forms Pennsylvania's eastern border with New Jersey, passes through the ridge just southeast of Stroudsburg.
• The Lehigh River, which feeds the Delaware at Easton, passes through the ridge near Palmerton.
• The Schuylkill River, which feeds the Delaware at Philadelphia, passes through the ridge just north of Hamburg.
• The Susquehanna River, which feeds the Chesapeake Bay, passes through the ridge just north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike

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The Pennsylvania Turnpike system passes through the Blue Mountain at two points.

• The Blue Mountain Tunnel carries the Turnpike's east-west mainline (Interstate 76) through the ridge in northern Franklin County.
• The Lehigh Tunnel, so named to avoid confusion with the former, carries the Turnpike's north-south Northeast Extension (Interstate 476) through the ridge between Lehigh and Carbon Counties.

Both tunnels (each consisting of two tubes) carry two lanes in each direction of travel.

Blue Mountain Attractions in Pennsylvania

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• The Appalachian Trail is concurrent with the top of the ridge from New Jersey to northern Lebanon County.
• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is located at the very northern edge of Berks County.
• Blue Mountain Ski Area is found on the north face of the ridge in the southeastern corner of Carbon County.
• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area reaches across Northampton, Monroe, and Pike Counties and into New Jersey, mostly to the northwest of the ridge.

See also

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• Appalachian Mountains

External links

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• Hawk Mountain
• Hawk mountain location
• Blue Mountain Ski Area
• Blue Mountain School District
• Roadside America USA

Mountain ranges of Pennsylvania | Berks County, Pennsylvania | Lehigh County, Pennsylvania | Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania