Delaware Water Gap
August 28, 2001
Provided by: Jim Foster, NASA/GSFC
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster
The above photo was taken a few weeks ago and shows the Delaware River in northeastern PA - the Delaware River is the border between PA and NJ. Millions of years ago this area was part of a level plain, but a combination of erosion and gradual uplifting formed the ridges and valleys that are features of today's landscape. Near the area shown on the photo, the Delaware river twists in a tight "S" curve through Kittatinny Ridge, formimg a picturesque gap. Whereas water gaps occur when ridges are cut by narrow stream valleys, wind gaps represent river cuts abandoned during the course of uplift and erosion - they're often found near the top of a ridge.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, a number of resorts, such as Shawnee on the Delaware, were built to take advantage of the area's scenic geology. Tubing and canoeing are popular pastimes on warm summer days.
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