High Knob: Difference between revisions

High Knob is found on the western front range of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], along the mountainous southeastern edge of the [[Cumberland Plateau]] of [[Southwest Virginia]]. It is unique to Virginia in containing both [[Appalachian Plateau]] and [[Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians|Ridge and Valley]] topography;, although it is largely a [[karst]]ic landform of the Ridge and Valley Province.

High Knob stretches across portions of southern Wise County, northern [[Scott County, Virginia|Scott County]], and the northeastern tip of [[Lee County, Virginia|Lee County]]. It is a significant physical feature in Virginia and is among the widest singular mountains in the southern Appalachians, being locally greater than 13&nbsp;miles ( 21&nbsp;km ) wide from base to base and more than {{convert|26|mi|km}} long. It represents the "pivot point" of the Cumberland Mountain Overthrust Block.<ref>http://www.geo.arizona.edu/web/DeCelles/geos456_556/references/Rich.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612090729/http://www.geo.arizona.edu/web/DeCelles/geos456_556/references/Rich.pdf|date=2011-06-12}} Cumberland Mountain Overthrust Block</ref> (first described in notable detail during the 1920s and 1930s by geologists [[Charles Butts (paleontologist)|Charles Butts]] and John Rich).