Appalachian
Expedition
Mountain
waterfall. Photo: USDA |
You
wake up to the sound of a mountain stream flowing next to your campsite.
When you climb out of your tent, the sun is shining. How beautiful! Late
spring or early summer is the best time to be hiking in the mountains
of West Virginia. The temperature at night (60°F) is perfect for sleeping
and during the day (75°F), perfect for hiking. The weather during the
winter is less favorable for expeditions. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico
and polar winds from the northwest bring abundant snowfall and freezing
temperatures to these mountains. This is what mountains do, though. They
act as weather
barriers, extracting large amounts of water from the atmosphere. This
is one of the ways mountains are able to supply the streams, rivers, and
lakes people depend on for water.
Fishing
in the Appalachians. Photo: National Park Service |
Thinking
back to the Pigeonroost Branch of Spruce Fork River that you crossed
on your way to Blair, you recall that 80 percent of the water that
humans use comes from mountains. Without mountains, people all over
the world would not be able to drink, clean themselves, generate
electricity, or water their crops. People benefit from mountain
rivers in many other ways, too. You recall the people you saw fishing
on the Pigeonroost when you drove by. They depend on the river for
fresh fish and the fish depend on it for food and shelter.
Where
does this water go when it leaves Blair? Ask the team Geographer
to pull out the map of the United States. Once you've located the
southern Appalachian Mountains, try to determine where the water
that falls on either side of Blair Mountain ends up ultimately.
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