Ridge and Valley Province

Ridge and Valley

Lying between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Plateaus, the Ridge and Valley Province is an area 50-75 miles in width. Even crested ridges, separated by narrow valleys, make up this area. The rock base consists of shale, sandstone, and limestone. American chestnut forests once covered much of this area. Because of the high soil fertility, agriculture now dominates the valleys. Power and flood control projects also dot the landscape (Walker and Oswald 2000). The Ridge and Valley Province is covered in more detail in the Southern Appalachian Encyclopedia.