Geology and climate Cherry Springs State Park

1938 aerial view of park, airport, pa 44, west branch pine creek, , hopper house run

cherry springs state park @ elevation of 2,300 feet (701 m) above sea level, atop allegheny plateau , near glaciated boundary . plateau , appalachian mountains formed in alleghenian orogeny 300 million years ago, when gondwana (specifically became africa) , became north america collided, forming pangaea. although region appears mountainous, these not true mountains: instead millions of years of erosion have made dissected plateau, causing mountainous terrain seen today. hardest of ancient rocks on top of ridges, while softer rocks eroded away forming valleys.

the park in west branch pine creek drainage basin, underlying rocks conglomerate, sandstone, , shale. 2 major rock formations present in cherry springs state park, both @ least partly carboniferous period. youngest of these, forms highest points in park, pennsylvanian pottsville formation, gray conglomerate may contain sandstone, siltstone, , shale, anthracite coal. lower formation late devonian , mississippian huntley mountain formation, made of relatively soft grayish-red shale , olive-gray sandstone. outside park creek has cut down devonian catskill formation, reddish sandstone.

the allegheny plateau has continental climate, occasional severe low temperatures in winter , average daily temperature ranges of 20 °f (11 °c) in winter , 26 °f (14 °c) in summer. mean annual precipitation west branch pine creek watershed 40 42 inches (1,016 1,067 mm). january coldest month @ cherry springs, july warmest, , june wettest. highest recorded temperature @ park 94 °f (34 °c) in 1966, , record low −28 °f (−33 °c) in 1963.