![]() Abandoned mines created pools and ponds, which have been colonized by bountiful amphibian life, old quarries formed unique geologic pockets and cliffs, and the break between mature forest and regenerating timbered and agricultural areas have created sharply distinct forest habitats. Gold, and uranium were also mined on the mountain, but in very limited quantities.Įvidence of past mining and timbering operations are still evident on the mountains slopes. The mountain was mined for iron ore, and limestone for the steel mills. The forests were timbered for lumber and the charcoal needed to fuel manufacturing until the burgeoning coal industry took over that role. Widelands is a free, open source real-time strategy game with singleplayer campaigns and a multiplayer mode. South Mountain also served as the green background to the Industrial Revolution. This aspect of the mountain makes conservation efforts of vital import to the surrounding communities who rely upon the unpolluted waters of the mountain. Much of the drinking water in the surrounding communities is still sourced from South Mountain springs, streams, and wells. In this instance, the water sources were springs and streams fed from the mountainside, which flowed reliably, even in dry periods. The first permanent European settlements on the mountain were founded by the Moravians, Germanic missionaries, who settled in areas with permanent sources of flowing water. Jasper, mined on private lands on southwestern portions of South Mountain, was used to create arrowheads and spear tips and has been found as far away as northern New England and Canada. For the Lenni Lenape people, the mountain provided settlements, refuges, and a vital source of trade materials. South Mountain has always been a vital part of the Lehigh Valley’s history. As part of the Crystalline Appalachian Mountains, it erodes less readily than the softer Sedimentary Appalachians such as the Kittatinny Ridge to the north or the Great Valley, which lies between the two ridges. South Mountain is geologically part of the Reading Prong, a spur of the Appalachian Mountains. South Mountain Preserve is considered part of the 800+-acre Robert Rodale Reserve, one of the most important natural areas in the Lehigh Valley. The preserve boasts more than 440+ acres of woodland trails, pronounced rocky outcroppings and unique vistas in an otherwise urban landscape. In 1973, South Mountain gave rise to Wildlands’ mission as the organization’s first land acquisition.
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