The state of Pennsylvania is located in the northeastern United States, and is bordered by the states of New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Ohio. The state is home to famous cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, in addition to beautiful geographic and land formations. According to World Atlas.com, 50 percent of Pennsylvania's land is preserved forest.
Thousands of years ago, Pennsylvania's topography was actually reversed . Currently, the state's elevated areas are situated in the northwest, with lower elevations in the southeast; according to City-Data.com, this was caused by the movement of the sea and was originally reversed, with lower areas in the northwest and higher elevations in the south. The ocean's movement also may have helped develop Pennsylvania's coal deposits, which were originally layers of vegetation that were mixed with shale and sandstone.
Pennsylvania is approximately 283 miles in length and 160 miles wide. The state is home to a variety of topographical characteristics, from mountains and streams to lakes and plains. The average elevation is 1,100 feet above sea level; the highest point is 3,213-foot Mount Davis and the lowest point is in the Delaware River, at sea level.
Pennsylvania's 117 state parks offer the best views of the beautiful land that the state has to offer. Hickory Run State Park in eastern Pennsylvania is home to 40 miles of hiking trails and numerous trout streams. Hyner View State Park provides breathtaking views of the Susquehanna River. The dramatic Pine Creek Gorge, commonly called Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon, can be viewed from Leonard Harrison and Colton Point parks. For a list of other scenic parks, go to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' website at dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks.
The Allegheny Mountains run diagonally across the middle of Pennsylvania and are actually part of the Appalachian mountain range. The Allegheny High Plateau is home to Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. The Allegheny Mountains are perfect for hiking, camping, fishing and hunting.
The Delaware River region is Pennsylvania's flattest land. The river runs along the eastern border of Pennsylvania and through the state capital of Philadelphia. The land is characterized by low rolling hills and is home to several scenic and geological areas of interest, such as Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Logan School Fossil Site, Big Spring Creek and the Punch Bowl.
