Looking out across the Blackwater Canyon from Lindy Point. Wind turbines in the distance on Backbone Mountain. Like in most parts of the country, wind is one of fastest growing sources of electricity in West Virginia. Every time you go there, more and more ridges have wind turbines. Not only do they have high, narrow windy ridges, the state has good electrical connections to metropolitan areas in other states due to the overbuilt grid, a legacy of coal generation.
Taken on Tuesday October 24, 2023 at Blackwater Falls State Park.
You might think the this area looks remarkably flat, but looks can be deceiving from the Olson Firetower which is on Backbone Mountain at 3,650 feet.
The range in the distance is the Allegheny Front (the Eastern Continental Divide), indeed it tops out at above 4,200 feet elevation with Petersburgh on the east side beyond it only about 1,000-1,500 feet elevation. The west side of Allegheny Front isn't as big of a drop, but the Canaan Valley is still only 3,200-3,500 feet elevation.
In the middle you can see the smoke stacks of the Mount Storm Coal Power Plant, the largest in the northeastern West Virginia which is a major electricity source for the Greater Washington DC area.
Taken on Thursday October 26, 2023 at Monongahela National Forest.
Along the Rim trail at Colton State Park.
Taken on Tuesday November 9, 2010 at Tioga State Forest.
In the Oak Creek Canyon Valley.
Taken on Thursday November 13, 2008 at Sodona.
