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, and Holyoke, 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 the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border. East Mountain is known for its extensive scenic cliffs, unique microclimate ecosystems, and rare plant communities. It is traversed by the convert|110|mi|adj=on Metacomet-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 mountaintop kettle pond.

East Mountain extends from the Westfield River on the tri-border of Westfield, West Springfield, and Agawam, Massachusetts to the base of Mount Tom in Holyoke; it lies within the towns of Holyoke, Westfield, West Springfield. The Metacomet Ridge continues north as the Mount Tom Range and south across the Westfield River as Provin 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, a volcanic rock. The mountain formed near the end of the Triassic Period with the rifting apart of the North American continent from Africa and Eurasia. Lava welled up from the rift and solidified into sheets of strata hundreds of feet thick. Subsequent faulting and earthquake 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 of microclimate ecosystems on the mountain that support plant and animal species uncommon in greater Massachusetts. East Mountain is also an important raptor migration path. (See Metacomet 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, and snowshoeing. 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 metropolitan Springfield, Massachusetts to the east.

Threats to the mountain and its unique habitats and vistas include suburban sprawl and quarrying, 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 the National Park Service for the designation of a new National Scenic Trail now tentatively called the New England National Scenic Trail, which would include the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and the Mattabesett Trail and Metacomet Trail trails in Connecticut.

ee also

* Metacomet Ridge
*East Mountain is also the name of a mountain in the Berkshires 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