According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 8,535,519, Virginia is the 12th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and VA is the two letter abbreviation for Virginia. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Virginia.
Bigger rivers
Roanoke River
With a length of almost 660 km, the Roanoke River is one of the largest rivers in the USA. It runs between Virginia in the south and North Carolina in the northeast. The river is created by the confluence of its two source rivers – the North and South Fork Roanoke River – in the Blue Ridge Mountains and extends across the eastern part of the Appalachian Mountains, the Piedmont Plateau and along the Atlantic coast to Albemarle Sound, an estuary in North Carolina, where it finally flows.
Potomac River
The Potomac River originates in the Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park in West Virginia and flows into Chesapeake Bay near Maryland and Virginia. It forms the border between Washington and Viginia and between Maryland and Virginia, where the great Potomac waterfalls are located. It is approximately 650 km long, has a 7,000 km² catchment area and is the twenty-one largest river in the United States.
James River
The approximately 560 km long James River is located exclusively in the state of Virginia and is an important part in the history of North America, since Jamestown, the first American settlement, was founded on its banks in 1607. The James River emerges from the merger of the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers in the Appalachian Mountains and, like so many other rivers in this region, flows into Chesapeake Bay. The James River is the twelve longest river in the United States, located in one state. It plays an important role for Virginia, since the capital Richmond is located directly on the banks of the Jackson River and it serves as a waterway for industry.
Rappahanock River
The Rappahanock River of the same name originates in Rappahanock County, which is located in Northern Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is located exclusively in Virginia and stretches almost 300 km in length almost once across the northern part of the state over the Piedmont Plateau to the Chesepeake Bay, where it finally flows. Its catchment area amounts to around 4,100 km². The Rappahanock River plays an important role in Virginia’s history. It was the venue for numerous battles during the civil war. B. the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Shenandoah River
The approximately 240 km long Shenandoah River between the states of Virginia and West Virginia originates from Front Royal in Warren County in Virginia and flows into Harpers Ferry in the sibling state. It belongs to the Potomac River system and drains the valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The river valley mainly consists of limestone. Many caves have been discovered in this area, which are now used for tourist purposes. These are e.g. B. the Luray Caverns, the Shenandoah Caverns and the Skyline Caverns.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in Virginia, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of Virginia.
Mountains in Virginia
Mount Rogers
Mount Rogers is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which belong to the Appalachian Mountains and is the highest mountain in Virginia at 1,800 m. It is located in Grayson and Smyth County approximately 6 miles from the city of Troutdale. Its summit can be easily reached via hiking trails through the Grayson Highlands State Park. You have to walk about 5.6 km to climb the top of Mount Rogers. It is well worth the effort, however, as there is a breathtaking view of the Jefferson National Forest from above.
Massanutten Mountains
The Massanutten Mountains in Virginia are approximately 900 m above sea level and belong to the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, a physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains, which runs from New York to Alabama. The Massanutten Mountains are located directly on the green Shenandoah Valley, a valley between the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah County. Most of this mountain range is used for local recreation.
Cumberland Mountains
In the southeastern part of the Appalachian Mountains lies the mountain range of the Cumberland Mountains, which are spread over the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its highest peak is the 1287m High Knob, which is located near Norton, Virginia. The entire Cumberland Mountains is approximately 210 km long and 31 km wide.
Larger lakes and reservoirs
Mountain Lake
The state of Virginia has only two natural freshwater lakes – Lake Drummond and Mountain Lake, which is located in western Giles County. Mountain Lake is approximately 1200 m high above sea level, is approximately 0.2 km² in size and almost five meters deep, although it can grow up to 35 m in high water and in the dry season there is no water at all. Mountain Lake became famous for the romantic dance film Dirty Dancing, which was filmed there in 1987. There is only one hotel on the lake, which is partially similar to the one from the film.
Lake Drummond
Lake Drummond is located in the Great Dismal Swamps Conservation Area, a swamp area in the middle of the Atlantic coastal plain. Along with Mountain Lake, it is the only natural freshwater lake in the state of Virginia that may have been created by a meteorite impact. It measures around 13 km² in size and is approximately 2 m deep.
John H. Kerr Reservoir
The John H. Kerr Reservoir is an almost 200 km² reservoir on the Roanake River between Virginia and North Carolina, the name of which goes back to a former congressman from North Carolina. Its construction around 1950 served to protect against flooding and generate electricity. The lake has a total storage space of around 1,900,000,000 m³ and a catchment area of more than 20,000 km² and is the largest body of water in Virginia. The John H. Kerr Reservoir stretches over six counties, making it accessible to almost everyone and a popular excursion destination. The dam is located in Mecklenburg County near Buggs Island.