Germany Valley | |
---|---|
Floor elevation | 2,100 ft (640 m) |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | West Virginia |
County | Pendleton |
Population center | Riverton |
Coordinates | 38°45′54″N 79°23′24″W / 38.76500°N 79.39000°W |
Germany Valley is a scenic upland valley high in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia originally settled by German (including Pennsylvania Dutch) farmers in the mid-18th century. It is today a part of the Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area of the Monongahela National Forest, although much ownership of the Valley remains in private hands.
The Valley is noted for its extensive karst and cave development, with dozens of caves and cave systems having been formally documented and mapped. The area was made a National Natural Landmark, the Germany Valley Karst Area, in 1973 by the National Park Service.[1] The NPS cited it as "one of the largest cove or intermountain karst areas in the country, unique because all the ground water recharge and solution activities are linked with precipitation within the cove."
Year designated: 1973