The Poconos

The Poconos, or the Pocono Mountains region, is a mountainous region of about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²) located in northeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 30 miles north of Allentown.

Geography

The Poconos encompass Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties of Pennsylvania, as well as portions of neighboring counties such as Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Northampton. They are mountainous, geologically a southwestern extension of the Catskills, although not as high: their highest summit, Elk Hill?s North Knob, reaches 2,693 feet (821 m), while its lowest elevation is 350 feet (107 m) in Pike County.

Related Topics:
Carbon - Monroe - Pike - Wayne - Susquehanna - Lackawanna - Northampton - Catskills

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Technically speaking, although they seem to be an extension of the Appalachian Mountains into Upstate New York, they are not geologically related. The Poconos are not a mountain chain, they are rather a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation of the Allegheny Plateau, one which continues into the Catskills in New York State.

Related Topics:
Appalachian Mountains - Mountain chain - Plateau - Allegheny Plateau - Catskills - New York State

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The Delaware River flows through the Poconos and gives the region its name, from a Native American term roughly translating to "stream between two mountains." The Lehigh and Lackawaxen Rivers also flow through the region, totalling about 170 miles (270 km) of waterways. The Poconos is also home to some 150 lakes.

Related Topics:
Delaware River - Lehigh - Lackawaxen

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The Pocono region is a rapidly growing population area. It now serves as a commuter community for the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas.

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