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The Appalachian Ridge and Valley
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The Appalachian Ridge and Valley is known to the world with various other names as well. It is popularly known as the Ridge and Valley Appalachian or the Ridge and Valley Province and also the Valley and Ridge Appalachian. This is an important part of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian Mountains extend to various parts of the USA ranging from Alabama, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Tennessee. The Appalachian Ridge and Valley forms a beautiful arc between the Appalachian Plateaus and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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The Appalachian Ridge and Valley are actually even and long ridges. In between these ridges there are continuous, long valleys. If we have a look at the Appalachian Ridge and Valley from a high altitude, it looks like a corduroy. But we note here that the widths of the valleys vary at various parts. Sometimes the ridges meet in such a way that they look like the English alphabet “V”.
The Appalachian Ridge and Valley has two mountain ranges. These are the Cumberland Mountain Range and the Alleghenies. The eastern part of this region is known to be the Great Appalachian Valley. This region lies to the west of Blue Ridge. On the eastern part of the The Appalachian Ridge and Valley you will find various escarpments which are known as the Allegheny Front, the Walden Ridge, and the Cumberland mountains.
Speaking of the geology of the region, you will find that the strata here is folded towards the west. They are further forced over the huge thrust faults. Here you will find no igneous rocks but metamorphism is found here. The ridges in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley are not prone to erosion and the valleys also the same. Some of the important rivers that flow from this region are the Delaware River, the Susquehanna River and the Potomac River.
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