- East Mountain (Hampden County, Massachusetts)
:"This article is about East Mountain, a landform in Hampden County, Massachusetts. For all other uses, see
East Mountain ."Infobox Mountain
Name = East Mountain (Hampden County, Massachusetts)
Photo = Eastmountain_snakepond.jpg
Caption = View of Snake Pond from East Mountain
Elevation_ft = 776
Elevation = ridge high point
Location = Westfield, West Springfield, andHolyoke, Massachusetts
Range =Metacomet Ridge
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|42|14|15|N|72|39|07|W|type:mountain to
coord|42|06|23|N|72|41|41|W|type:mountain
Type =Fault-block ;igneous
Age = 200 Ma
Last eruption =
First ascent =
Easiest route =Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
Listing =
Translation =
Language =
Pronunciation =East Mountain is a
traprock mountain ridge located in theConnecticut River Valley ofMassachusetts . It is part of the narrow, linearMetacomet Ridge that extends fromLong Island Sound nearNew Haven, Connecticut , north through theConnecticut River Valley ofMassachusetts to theVermont border. East Mountain is known for its extensive scenic cliffs, uniquemicroclimate ecosystems, and rare plant communities. It is traversed by the convert|110|mi|adj=onMetacomet-Monadnock Trail .Geography
East Mountain rises steeply between convert|350|and|650|ft above the Connecticut River and
Westfield River valleys below; it is roughly convert|9|mi long and convert|1.5|mi wide at its widest point, although the steepness of the terrain makes the actual square mileage much larger. The mountain includes many crests and tiered ridges, with a high point of convert|776|ft above sea level. Various lakes, ponds and reservoirs are located on it, including Snake Pond, a mountaintopkettle pond .East Mountain extends from the Westfield River on the tri-border of Westfield, West Springfield, and
Agawam, Massachusetts to the base ofMount Tom in Holyoke; it lies within the towns of Holyoke, Westfield, West Springfield. The Metacomet Ridge continues north as theMount Tom Range and south across the Westfield River asProvin Mountain . The west and south sides of the mountain drain into the Westfield River, thence to the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound; the north and east sides of the mountain drain into the Connecticut River.Because the mountain is an important regional
aquifer , numerous reservoirs have been constructed on it slopes; these facilities provide drinking water and emergency drinking water to surrounding towns and cities. They include Bearhole Reservoir, MacLean Reservoir, Whiting Street Reservoir, and High Service Reservoir.Geology and ecology
East Mountain, like much of the Metacomet Ridge, is composed of
basalt , also called traprock, avolcanic rock. The mountain formed near the end of theTriassic Period with the rifting apart of theNorth America n continent fromAfrica andEurasia .Lava welled up from the rift and solidified into sheets of strata hundreds of feet thick. Subsequent faulting andearthquake activity tilted the strata, creating the cliffs and ridgeline of East Mountain. Hot, dry upper slopes, cool, moist ravines, and mineral-rich ledges of basalt talus produce a combination ofmicroclimate ecosystems on the mountain that support plant and animal species uncommon in greater Massachusetts. East Mountain is also an important raptor migration path. (SeeMetacomet Ridge for more information on the geology and ecosystem of East Mountain).Conservation and recreation
The mountain is used for
hiking ,mountain biking ,cross country skiing ,hunting ,fishing , andsnowshoeing . Although not a high mountain, it boasts more open ledge than any other mountain in Massachusetts, offering excellent views of the rural countryside to the west and the urban landscape of metropolitanSpringfield, Massachusetts to the east.Threats to the mountain and its unique habitats and vistas include
suburban sprawl andquarrying , which has been particularly damaging; the southern convert|1.5|mi of the ridgeline have been nearly obliterated by quarrying operations.Although a large portion of the mountain lies within protected watershed lands, much of mountain is located on private land. Other landholders include hunting and fishing clubs and conservation commissions. In 2000, East Mountain was included in a study by theNational Park Service for the designation of a newNational Scenic Trail now tentatively called theNew England National Scenic Trail , which would include theMetacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and theMattabesett Trail andMetacomet Trail trails in Connecticut.ee also
*
Metacomet Ridge
*East Mountain is also the name of a mountain in theBerkshires of Massachusetts.
* Adjacent summits:References
* Farnsworth, Elizabeth J. " [http://www.mmmtrail.org/NaturalResourcesAssessmentFinal.pdf Metacomet-Mattabesett Trail Natural Resource Assessment.] " 2004. PDF wefile cited November 1, 2007.
*"The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail Guide". 9th Edition. The Appalachian Mountain Club. Amherst, Massachusetts, 1999.
* Raymo, Chet and Maureen E. "Written in Stone: A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States". Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989.External links
* [http://amcberkshire.org/trails/mmtrail Metacomet-Monadnock Trail,] AMCBerkshire.org
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