View source for Environment of West Virginia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
[[File:West Virginia geographic map-en.svg|thumb|300px|West Virginia is situated in the Appalachian Mountains, bounded by Allegheny Mountains to the east, Ohio river and its tributary Big Sandy River to the west and southwest and the Cumberland Mountains to the south]]

The '''environment of West Virginia''' encompasses terrain and ecosystems ranging from plateaus to mountains. Most of [[West Virginia]] lies within the [[Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests]] [[ecoregion]], while the higher elevations along the eastern border and in the panhandle lie within the [[Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests]].<ref name="ecoregion">{{cite journal|author=Olson, D. M. |title=Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth |journal=[[BioScience]] |year=2001 |volume=51 |issue=11 |pages=933–938 |doi=10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2 |display-authors=etal |doi-access=free }}</ref>

West Virginia is situated in the [[Appalachian Mountains]] of the [[Upper South]] region of the 48 [[Contiguous United States|contiguous states]]. Usually considered part of the [[Southeastern United States|South Eastern United States]], West Virginia is bounded on the northeast by  [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Maryland]], on the southeast by [[Virginia]], on the northwest by [[Ohio]], and on the southwest by [[Kentucky]].

A portion of the [[Appalachian Mountains]] stretches into eastern West Virginia, and in Pendleton County near the eastern border, [[Spruce Knob]], is officially regarded as the tallest mountain in the [[Allegheny Mountains]], a vast section of the Appalachians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allegheny Plateau|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/us/A0803380.html|publisher=Infoplease|access-date=7 July 2010}}</ref> West Virginia covers an area of {{convert|24,229.76|sqmi|km2}}, with {{convert|24,077.73|sqmi|km2}} of land and {{convert|152.03|sqmi|km2}} of water, making it the 41st-largest state in the United States.<ref>{{cite web| title=Land and Water Area of States, 2000| publisher=Information Please| year=2000 |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108355.html| access-date=2010-07-07}}</ref> Generally, it is divided into four geographical regions: [[Ohio River Valley]], [[Allegheny Plateau]], [[Allegheny Mountains|Allegheny Highlands]], and [[Potomac Highlands of West Virginia|Potomac Section]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our State |url=http://www.narr.com/west-virginia.html |publisher=North American River Runners, Inc |access-date=7 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714163518/http://www.narr.com/west-virginia.html |archive-date=14 July 2010 }}</ref>

== Climate ==
{{Further|Climate change in West Virginia}}
[[File:Köppen Climate Types West Virginia.png|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of West Virginia, using 1991–2020 [[Climatological normal|climate normals]]]]
{{climate chart|West Virginia state-wide averages
|22|39|3.3
|24|43|2.9
|32|53|3.8
|40|64|3.7
|50|73|4.4
|59|80|4.0
|64|83|4.2
|62|82|4.0
|56|76|3.4
|44|65|2.9
|35|54|3.5
|27|44|3.3
|float=left
|units=imperial
|source=<span style="font-size:98%">West Virginia University data</span>{{cn|date=April 2024}}
}}

West Virginia generally has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa'') with very warm, humid summers and chilly winters. The climate increases in severity with elevation, and the highest elevations have a snowy [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb''). Some areas of intermediate altitude have a mountain temperate climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfb'') where winter temperatures are more moderate and summer temperatures are somewhat cooler. However, the weather is subject in all parts of the state to change. The [[hardiness zone]]s range from zone 5b in the central [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian mountains]] to zone 7a in the warmest parts of the lowest elevations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-west-virginia-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php |title=West Virginia USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |publisher=plantmaps.com |access-date=November 11, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209044026/http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-west-virginia-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php |archive-date=December 9, 2010  }}</ref>

In the Eastern Panhandle and the [[Ohio River]] Valley, temperatures are warm enough to see and grow subtropical plants such as southern magnolia (''[[Magnolia grandiflora]]''), [[Lagerstroemia|crepe myrtle]], ''[[Albizia julibrissin]]'', [[American sweetgum]] and even the occasional [[needle palm]] and [[sabal minor]]. These plants do not thrive as well in other parts of the state. The [[eastern prickly pear]] grows well in many portions of the state.

Average January temperatures range from around {{convert|26|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} near the [[Cheat River]] to {{convert|41|°F|°C|disp=or}} along sections of the border with Kentucky. July averages range from {{convert|67|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} along the [[North Branch Potomac River]] to {{convert|76|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} in the western part of the state. It is cooler in the mountains than in the lower sections of the state.<ref name="climates">{{cite web| title=West Virginia University data| url=http://www.health.wvu.edu/employment/live/clim_quickfacts.aspx| publisher=West Virginia University Health Office| access-date=July 7, 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531095326/http://health.wvu.edu/employment/live/clim_quickfacts.aspx| archive-date=May 31, 2008| df=mdy-all}}</ref> The highest recorded temperature in the state is {{convert|112|F|C|1|disp=or}} at [[Martinsburg, West Virginia|Martinsburg]] on July 10, 1936, and the lowest recorded temperature in the state is {{convert|-37|F|C|1|disp=or}} at [[Lewisburg, West Virginia|Lewisburg]] on December 30, 1917.

Annual precipitation ranges from less than {{convert|32|in|mm}} in the lower eastern section to more than {{convert|56|in|mm}} in higher parts of the Allegheny Front. Valleys in the east have lower rainfall because the Allegheny mountain ridges to the west create a partial [[rain shadow]]. Slightly more than half the rainfall occurs from April to September. Dense fogs are common in many valleys of the [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]] section, especially the [[Tygart Valley]]. West Virginia is also one of the cloudiest states in the nation, with the cities of [[Elkins, West Virginia|Elkins]] and [[Beckley, West Virginia|Beckley]] ranking 9th and 10th in the U.S. respectively for the number of cloudy days per year (over 210). In addition to persistent cloudy skies caused by the damming of moisture by the Alleghenies, West Virginia also experiences some of the most frequent precipitation in the nation, with [[Snowshoe, West Virginia|Snowshoe]] averaging nearly 200 days a year with either rain or snow. Snow usually lasts only a few days in the lower sections but may persist for weeks in the higher mountain areas. An average of {{convert|34|in|m|sigfig=2|disp=or}} of snow falls annually in Charleston, although during the winter of 1995–1996 more than three times that amount fell as several cities in the state established new records for snowfall. Average snowfall in the Allegheny Highlands can range up to {{convert|180|in|m|sigfig=2|disp=or}} per year. Severe weather is somewhat less prevalent in West Virginia than in most other eastern states, and it ranks among the least tornado-prone states east of the Rockies.

===Climate data===
{{Weather box
| location = [[Charleston, West Virginia|Charleston]] (Köppen Cfa)
| collapsed = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high F = 81
| Feb record high F = 81
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 96
| May record high F = 98
| Jun record high F = 105
| Jul record high F = 108
| Aug record high F = 108
| Sep record high F = 104
| Oct record high F = 96
| Nov record high F = 87
| Dec record high F = 80
| year record high F = 108
| Jan avg record high F = 68.2
| Feb avg record high F = 70.6
| Mar avg record high F = 79.1
| Apr avg record high F = 86.8
| May avg record high F = 88.8
| Jun avg record high F = 92.0
| Jul avg record high F = 93.9
| Aug avg record high F = 93.1
| Sep avg record high F = 90.1
| Oct avg record high F = 84.5
| Nov avg record high F = 77.3
| Dec avg record high F = 69.1
| year avg record high F = 95.3
| Jan high F = 43.9
| Feb high F = 47.8
| Mar high F = 56.8
| Apr high F = 69.4
| May high F = 76.2
| Jun high F = 83.1
| Jul high F = 86.0
| Aug high F = 85.2
| Sep high F = 79.5
| Oct high F = 68.7
| Nov high F = 57.3
| Dec high F = 47.5
| year high F = 66.8
| Jan mean F = 35.0
| Feb mean F = 38.2
| Mar mean F = 46.0
| Apr mean F = 56.9
| May mean F = 64.7
| Jun mean F = 72.3
| Jul mean F = 75.8
| Aug mean F = 74.6
| Sep mean F = 68.3
| Oct mean F = 57.0
| Nov mean F = 46.4
| Dec mean F = 38.7
| year mean F = 56.2
| Jan low F = 26.1
| Feb low F = 28.6
| Mar low F = 35.1
| Apr low F = 44.5
| May low F = 53.2
| Jun low F = 61.5
| Jul low F = 65.5
| Aug low F = 64.1
| Sep low F = 57.1
| Oct low F = 45.3
| Nov low F = 35.6
| Dec low F = 29.9
| year low F = 45.5
| Jan avg record low F = 5.5
| Feb avg record low F = 9.9
| Mar avg record low F = 17.0
| Apr avg record low F = 27.6
| May avg record low F = 37.1
| Jun avg record low F = 48.8
| Jul avg record low F = 55.7
| Aug avg record low F = 54.1
| Sep avg record low F = 43.3
| Oct avg record low F = 30.4
| Nov avg record low F = 20.6
| Dec avg record low F = 12.9
| year avg record low F = 2.3
| Jan record low F = −16
| Feb record low F = −12
| Mar record low F = −5
| Apr record low F = 18
| May record low F = 26
| Jun record low F = 33
| Jul record low F = 46
| Aug record low F = 41
| Sep record low F = 32
| Oct record low F = 17
| Nov record low F = 6
| Dec record low F = −17
| year record low F = -17
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.27
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.36
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.14
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.56
| May precipitation inch = 4.93
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.72
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.38
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.75
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.46
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.91
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.20
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.56
|year precipitation inch  = 46.24
| Jan snow inch = 10.3
| Feb snow inch = 7.7
| Mar snow inch = 5.9
| Apr snow inch = 0.5
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.6
| Nov snow inch = 1.5
| Dec snow inch = 5.0
| year snow inch = 31.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 14.8
| Feb precipitation days = 13.7
| Mar precipitation days = 14.8
| Apr precipitation days = 13.4
| May precipitation days = 14.1
| Jun precipitation days = 12.5
| Jul precipitation days = 12.8
| Aug precipitation days = 10.6
| Sep precipitation days = 9.0
| Oct precipitation days = 10.1
| Nov precipitation days = 11.0
| Dec precipitation days = 14.2
|year precipitation days = 151.0
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 7.6
| Feb snow days = 6.2
| Mar snow days = 3.9
| Apr snow days = 0.5
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 1.5
| Dec snow days = 4.1
| year snow days = 23.9
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=NOWDataCha>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=rlx
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 13, 2021
| archive-date = May 1, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210501045108/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=rlx
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name = "NOAA TXT cha">{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013866&format=pdf
| title = Station: Charleston Yeager AP, WV
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 13, 2021}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Huntington, West Virginia|Huntington]] (Köppen Cfa)
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|width = auto 
|Jan record high F = 79
|Feb record high F = 81
|Mar record high F = 92
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 80
|year record high F = 108
|Jan high F = 43.2
|Feb high F = 47.3
|Mar high F = 56.8
|Apr high F = 68.8
|May high F = 76.2
|Jun high F = 83.3
|Jul high F = 86.4
|Aug high F = 85.5
|Sep high F = 79.6
|Oct high F = 68.6
|Nov high F = 56.6
|Dec high F = 46.7
|year high F = 66.6
|Jan mean F = 34.8
|Feb mean F = 38.2
|Mar mean F = 46.4
|Apr mean F = 57.2
|May mean F = 65.2
|Jun mean F = 72.9
|Jul mean F = 76.4
|Aug mean F = 75.2
|Sep mean F = 68.7
|Oct mean F = 57.4
|Nov mean F = 46.6
|Dec mean F = 38.6
|year mean F = 56.5
|Jan low F = 26.4
|Feb low F = 29.1
|Mar low F = 36.1
|Apr low F = 45.5
|May low F = 54.2
|Jun low F = 62.4
|Jul low F = 66.4
|Aug low F = 64.8
|Sep low F = 57.7
|Oct low F = 46.1
|Nov low F = 36.6
|Dec low F = 30.4
|year low F = 46.3
|Jan record low F = −21
|Feb record low F = −24
|Mar record low F = −2
|Apr record low F = 15
|May record low F = 27
|Jun record low F = 39
|Jul record low F = 46
|Aug record low F = 43
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 16
|Nov record low F = 4
|Dec record low F = −14
|year record low F = −24
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.10
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.37
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.16
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.91
|May precipitation inch = 4.51
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.20
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.08
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.95
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.16
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.02
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.07
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.57
|year precipitation inch = 45.10
|Jan snow inch = 6.0
|Feb snow inch = 5.8
|Mar snow inch = 4.3
|Apr snow inch = 0.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.2
|Nov snow inch = 0.5
|Dec snow inch = 2.7
|year snow inch = 19.8
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 13.4
|Feb precipitation days = 12.2
|Mar precipitation days = 13.5
|Apr precipitation days = 13.1
|May precipitation days = 13.7
|Jun precipitation days = 12.5
|Jul precipitation days = 12.2
|Aug precipitation days = 9.9
|Sep precipitation days = 8.3
|Oct precipitation days = 10.2
|Nov precipitation days = 10.3
|Dec precipitation days = 12.8
|year precipitation days = 142.1
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 4.4
|Feb snow days = 3.7
|Mar snow days = 2.5
|Apr snow days = 0.5
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.8
|Dec snow days = 2.8
|year snow days = 14.8
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=NOAAHunt>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=rlx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEIhunt>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00003860&format=pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
| title = Station: Huntington Tri State AP, WV
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| access-date = June 5, 2021}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Morgantown, West Virginia|Morgantown]] (Köppen Cfa/Dfa)
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|width = auto 
|Jan record high F = 79
|Feb record high F = 80
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 99
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 77
|year record high F = 105
|Jan avg record high F = 66
|Feb avg record high F = 67
|Mar avg record high F = 75
|Apr avg record high F = 84
|May avg record high F = 88
|Jun avg record high F = 91
|Jul avg record high F = 93
|Aug avg record high F = 91
|Sep avg record high F = 89
|Oct avg record high F = 82
|Nov avg record high F = 75
|Dec avg record high F = 66
|year avg record high F = 93
|Jan high F = 40.1
|Feb high F = 43.7
|Mar high F = 52.6
|Apr high F = 65.2
|May high F = 73.6
|Jun high F = 80.9
|Jul high F = 84.4
|Aug high F = 83.1
|Sep high F = 77.1
|Oct high F = 65.9
|Nov high F = 54.1 
|Dec high F = 44.3
|year high F = 63.8
|Jan mean F = 32.0
|Feb mean F = 34.8
|Mar mean F = 42.6
|Apr mean F = 53.8
|May mean F = 62.6
|Jun mean F = 70.3
|Jul mean F = 74.1
|Aug mean F = 72.8
|Sep mean F = 66.5
|Oct mean F = 55.3
|Nov mean F = 44.9
|Dec mean F = 36.4
|year mean F = 53.8
|Jan low F = 24.0
|Feb low F = 25.8
|Mar low F = 32.6
|Apr low F = 42.4
|May low F = 51.5
|Jun low F = 59.7
|Jul low F = 63.8
|Aug low F = 62.5
|Sep low F = 55.9
|Oct low F = 44.7
|Nov low F = 35.8
|Dec low F = 28.6
|year low F = 43.9
|Jan avg record low F = 3
|Feb avg record low F = 7
|Mar avg record low F = 14
|Apr avg record low F = 26
|May avg record low F = 36
|Jun avg record low F = 45
|Jul avg record low F = 53
|Aug avg record low F = 52
|Sep avg record low F = 42
|Oct avg record low F = 30
|Nov avg record low F = 20
|Dec avg record low F = 12
|year avg record low F = 0
|Jan record low F = −20
|Feb record low F = −25
|Mar record low F = −4
|Apr record low F = 6
|May record low F = 25
|Jun record low F = 30
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 15
|Nov record low F = −1
|Dec record low F = −16
|year record low F = -25
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.12
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.81
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.65
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.87
|May precipitation inch = 4.33
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.07
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.93
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.65
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.41
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.09
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.02
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.20
|year precipitation inch = 43.15
|Jan snow inch = 9.1
|Feb snow inch = 5.5
|Mar snow inch = 7.0
|Apr snow inch = 1.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 1.1
|Dec snow inch = 3.8
|year snow inch = 27.6
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 15.5
|Feb precipitation days = 13.0
|Mar precipitation days = 14.4
|Apr precipitation days = 14.1
|May precipitation days = 14.7
|Jun precipitation days = 13.1
|Jul precipitation days = 12.4
|Aug precipitation days = 10.5
|Sep precipitation days = 10.3
|Oct precipitation days = 11.4
|Nov precipitation days = 11.7
|Dec precipitation days = 13.9
|year precipitation days = 155.0
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.1
|Feb snow days = 4.3
|Mar snow days = 3.3
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 1.1
|Dec snow days = 3.5
|year snow days = 18.8
|source 1 = [[NOAA]] (snow 1981–2010)<ref name = NOAAMor>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pbz
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 10, 2021}}</ref><ref name = "NOAA txt Mor">{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013736&format=pdf
| title = Station: Morgantown Hart FLD, WV
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013736&format=pdf
| title = Station: Morgantown Hart Field, WV
| work = U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1981–2010)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 10, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Geology ==
{{main|Geology of West Virginia}}
[[File:Blackwater Falls State Park West Virginia.jpg|thumb|right|A view of Blackwater Falls State Park]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Geologic Map of West Virginia.jpg|thumb|right|Geologic Map of West Virginia.]] -->
Historical Geology Summary<ref>This article is provided by the 'West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.' (adapted from an educational booklet by Dudley Cardwell, 1975 with additions from Ron McDowell, 2007) Permission to reproduce this material is granted if acknowledgment is given to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Address:  Mont Chateau Research Center, 1 Mont Chateau Road, Morgantown, WV 26508-8079 http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geolphyp.htm</ref>

Prior to one billion years ago, the geologic history of West Virginia is obscure. Sometime between about 1,100 and 800 million years ago, [[lava]] was deposited in the extreme eastern part of the State forming our oldest exposed rock, the [[Catoctin Mountain|Catoctin]] [[Greenstone belt|Greenstone]]. Later, perhaps about 800 million years ago, a narrow trough began to form in extreme eastern West Virginia. An arm of the [[sea]] entered and [[sediment]]s accumulated. As time went on, this shallow sea transgressed westward. By the end of [[Cambrian]] time, about 300 million years later, this shallow sea covered essentially all of West Virginia. Marine deposition took place throughout most of this and the succeeding [[Ordovician Period]]. During this total interval of about 370 million years, most of the rocks exposed in [[Jefferson County, West Virginia|Jefferson]] and eastern [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley]] counties and in scattered areas southwestward along the [[Virginia]] boundary were deposited. [[Rock (geology)|Rock]]s of the same age are found in abundance in the deep wells throughout the State.

The [[Taconic Orogeny]] near the end of Ordovician time formed a high mountainous area east of [[West Virginia]]. During Middle and Late [[Devonian]] time the [[Acadian Orogeny]], with the main uplift to the northeast, resulted in a further source for the predominantly clastic marine deposits of these epochs. However, near the end of Devonian time, the sea was rapidly retreating westward and the continental red beds of the Hampshire Formation were being deposited over most of the State.

The sea made one more important intrusion into West Virginia during [[Middle Mississippian]] time, approximately 330 million years ago, resulting in the deposition of the [[Greenbrier Formation]], predominantly limestone, the last marine deposit of significance in the State. At the close of Mississippian time, about 310 million years ago, West Virginia was essentially a land area, subject to erosion. Early in the succeeding [[Pennsylvanian Period]], the area dropped to near sea level and for more than 50 million years continued to sink at about the same rate that deposition was taking place. [[Permian Period]], roughly 270 to 225 million years ago, the Appalachian [[Orogeny]] began which played a major part in the formation of the Appalachian Mountains as we know them today. Never again has the sea invaded West Virginia.

The oldest evidences of life found in West Virginia occur in rocks about 600 million years old, in the Antietam Formation of [[Lower Cambrian]] age. However, in this formation they are abundant and of forms that had already developed through a substantial part of all evolution that has taken place during the history of the earth. Evidences of life in other parts of the earth are found in rocks at least 3 billion years old. [[Fossil]]s are found in increasing abundance and increasing stages of evolutional development in the rocks of all ages since earliest [[Cambrian]] time.
== Fauna ==
{{main|Fauna of West Virginia}}
The life zones of [[West Virginia]] transitions from large low-land farming valleys bordered with forest and meadow to high-land ridge flats and heavy forestlands, some with rocky ridge-line peaks. The [[geology]] allows for a diversity of habitats. The "Mountain State" harbors at least 56 [[species]] and subspecies of [[mammal]]s. The state has more than 300 types of birds and more than 100 species of [[fish]]. Many common [[Insects]] of the [[Eastern United States]] can be found in West Virginia. The state's [[Insect|beetle]] number about 15 species with more than 70 species of [[Odonate]], some 18 species of [[spider]]s and a dozen species of [[Stonefly]]. There are about 17 [[Moth]] species. There are a little over seven dozen [[Cave]] [[invertebrate]] species.  The West Virginia Division of Wildlife (WVDNR) uses hunting and fishing license fees for wildlife habitat conservation.<ref>West Virginia Division of Wildlife {{cite web |url=http://www.wvdnr.gov/Main.shtm |title=West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |access-date=2008-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412035046/http://www.wvdnr.gov/main.shtm |archive-date=2008-04-12 }}</ref>

== Flora ==
The [[Allegheny Plateau|Allegheny]] and [[Cumberland Plateau]]s of West Virginia are predominantly covered by [[hardwood|hardwood forests]], but along the [[Ohio River]] and its principal [[tributary|tributaries]], the valuable timber has been removed and considerable areas have been wholly cleared over the centuries for farming and pasture lands. Among the most prevalent trees of this region are the [[chestnut oak]]s, the [[walnut]], the [[yellow poplar]], and the [[cherry tree|cherry]]. [[Southern West Virginia]] contains the largest reserve supply of timber. In the [[Ridge-and-valley Appalachians|Ridge-and-Valley]] region of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], the [[Eastern Panhandle]] and [[Potomac Highlands]] have a forest covering similar to that of the plateau region, however between these two areas of hardwood there is a long belt where [[spruce]] and [[Eastern White Pine|white pine]] cover the mountain ridges. Other trees common in the state are the [[persimmon]], [[sassafras]], and, in the Ohio and Potomac Valley regions, the [[American sycamore]]. [[Hickory]], [[chestnut]], [[locust]], [[maple]], [[beech]], [[dogwood]], and [[Asimina triloba|pawpaw]] are widely distributed throughout the state as well. Among the state's common shrubs and vines are the [[blackberry]], black and red [[raspberry]], [[gooseberry]], [[huckleberry]], [[hazel]], and [[wild grape]]. [[Ginseng]] is an important medicinal plant that is harvested primarily in West Virginia's southern regions. [[Wild ginger]], [[Elderberry|elder]], and [[sumach]] are common, and deep in the mountainous areas, [[rhododendrons]], [[Kalmia latifolia|mountain laurel]], and [[azalea]]s grow in abundance.

== Geographical facts ==
[[Image:West Virginia quarter, reverse side, 2005.jpg|thumb |upright|right|West Virginia state quarter]]
* '''Highest Point''': [[Spruce Knob]] on [[Spruce Mountain (West Virginia)|Spruce Mountain]] in [[Pendleton County, West Virginia|Pendleton County]], 4,863 feet (1,482 m) above sea level
* '''Lowest Point''': [[Potomac River]] at [[Harpers Ferry, West Virginia|Harpers Ferry]], 240 feet (73 m) above sea level
* '''Smallest County''': [[Hancock County, West Virginia|Hancock County]], 229&nbsp;km² (88.2&nbsp;mi²)
* '''Largest County''': [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph County]], 2,693&nbsp;km² (1,040&nbsp;mi²)
* '''Oldest County''': [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire County]], formed December 13, 1753
* '''Youngest County''': [[Mingo County, West Virginia|Mingo County]], formed 1895
* '''Most Populous County''': [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha County]], 200,073 ([[United States Census, 2000|2000]])
* '''Least Populous County''': [[Wirt County, West Virginia|Wirt County]], 5,873 ([[United States Census, 2000|2000]])
* '''Fastest Growing County''': [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley County]], +28.0% growth between 1990 (59,253) and 2000 (75,905) censuses
* '''Most Populous Municipality''': [[Charleston, West Virginia|Charleston]], 53,421 ([[United States Census, 2000|2000]])
* '''Least Populous Municipality''': [[Thurmond, West Virginia|Thurmond]], 7 ([[United States Census, 2000|2000]])
* '''Oldest Municipality''': [[Romney, West Virginia|Romney]] in [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire County]] chartered December 23, 1762
* '''Geographical Center of State''': near [[Sutton, West Virginia|Sutton]] in [[Braxton County, West Virginia|Braxton County]]
* '''Center of Population''': near [[Gassaway, West Virginia|Gassaway]] in [[Braxton County, West Virginia|Braxton County]]
*West Virginia is the only state with two [[Salient (geography)|Panhandles]].

== See also ==
*[[Mountains of West Virginia]]
* [[List of islands in West Virginia|Islands in West Virginia]]
*[[List of lakes in West Virginia|Lakes in West Virginia]]
*[[List of West Virginia rivers|Rivers in West Virginia]]
*[[List of West Virginia state forests|State forests in West Virginia]]
*[[List of West Virginia state parks|State parks in West Virginia]]
*[[List of West Virginia wildlife management areas|Wildlife management areas in West Virginia]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geology.htm West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey]

{{West Virginia}}
{{U.S. political divisions geographies}}
{{Environment of the United States by political division}}

[[Category:Environment of West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Geography of Appalachia]]
[[Category:Geography of West Virginia]]