Known for its rugged terrain, West Virginia is a heavily forested state lying completely within the Appalachian mountains. Nicknamed the "Mountain State," West Virginia has an average elevation of slightly above 1,500 feet, making it the highest state east of the Mississippi river. Although West Virginia is almost entirely mountainous, several geographic and biological areas divide the state into distinct land regions.
Encompassing southwestern West Virginia, the Northern Cumberland Plateau is a heavily forested tableland dominated by oak, hickory and chestnut woodlands. Lying at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,750 feet, the region extends from Alabama to Pennsylvania, where it is referred to as the Allegheny Plateau. The plateau comprises the western foothills of the main Appalachian mountain range, although it is considered by some geologists to be a separate range entirely. Many of West Virginia's mining operations are based in the largely rural Cumberland Plateau area which has a high concentration of bituminous coal.
Characterized by tall mountain ridges and deep valleys, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Valley occupies most of northeastern West Virginia. Sparsely populated, the region is largely rural and consists of extensive tracts of oak and hickory woodlands, as well as small pockets of fir and spruce forests. Timber plantations, coal mining and oil and gas exploration are common throughout the area, as are recreational parkland and vacation lodging. Dominated by the Allegheny branch of the Appalachian mountain range, it is the most rugged area of West Virginia.
Low, rolling plateaus distinguish the Ohio Hills land region from other areas of West Virginia. The result of ancient glacial flow, the region is marked by mesa-like hills varying in height from 1,100 to over 3,000 feet and valleys as low as 300 feet. Mixed oak and pine woodlands cover the western slopes, providing critical habitat for numerous bird species like the cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea) and Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii). Although several urban centers are found in the Ohio Hills, the area is predominately rural like much of West Virginia.
