Geography & Climate
Industry
Snapshot | Economy/Cost of
Living
Education
| Recreation
& Entertainment | Transportation
History | Suggested
Reading List
Located in the inland mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., West Virginia is one of the smallest states and
ranks 41st in total area at 24,231 square miles (62,758 square kilometers or 6,275,800 hectares). The
state contains 24,087 square miles (62,385 square kilometers or 6,238,504 hectares) of land, whereas
145 square miles (376 square kilometers or 37,554 hectares) are covered by water. West Virginia is
bordered by Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland to the north, Virginia to the south, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and Virginia to the east, and to the west by Ohio and Kentucky.
West Virginia is called the Mountain State for its ancient, rugged mountains covering much of the
state. It is a highly scenic, forested state and offers plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities
that take advantage of its terrain. The oddly shaped state contains two panhandles, the Eastern
Panhandle which stretches between Maryland and Virginia, and the Northern Panhandle, stretching between
Ohio and Pennsylvania to the north. West Virginia can be categorized into two land areas: the
Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, comprised of the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains running from
the northeast to the southwest, comprised of high, parallel ridges, streams in valleys, and caves; and
the undulating Appalachian Plateau, notable for its flat-topped highlands. The state’s mean elevation
is 1,500 feet (0.46 kilometers) above sea level, the highest mean elevation of any state east of the
Mississippi River; many mountain peaks rise above 4,000 feet (1.2 kilometers) in elevation. The
Mountain State’s highest point is Spruce Knob, at 4,863 feet (1.48 kilometers) above sea level. Major
rivers in West Virginia include the Ohio, Tug Fork, Big Sandy, New, Kanawha, Little Kanawha, Cheat,
Monongahela, Guyandotte, and Greenbrier Rivers. Major lakes include Tygart Lake, East Lynn Lake,
Summersville Lake, and Bluestone Lake. Located throughout the state are mineral springs, such as
Berkeley Springs and White Sulphur Springs.
West Virginia experiences a variable, humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers
are hot except for higher elevations, winters are moderate and cool to cold; fall is delightful and
resplendent in leaf color. West Virginia’s varying elevations provide a broad range of temperature and
precipitation differences in the state; its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean also provides a climatic
influence. The average January high ranges from 34.5 degrees F (1.4 degrees C) in Charleston to 23.9
degrees F (-4.5 degrees C) in Elkins; Charlton’s average July temperature is around 75 degrees F (23.9
degrees C), whereas Elkins experiences a July high average of around 75.3 degrees F (24 degrees C).
West Virginia receives an average of 40 to 60 inches (102 to 152 centimeters) of precipitation annually.
Snowfall averages from 20 to 25 inches (51 to 64 centimeters) annually throughout the state, with the
Potomac Highlands receiving even more. The state only rarely experiences tornadoes or the effects of
hurricanes. However, West Virginia does experience thunderstorms, which can occasionally result in
flash flooding.
Related Resources:
Back to Destination West Virginia
|
