West Virginia : Geographical Features

West Virginia lies within two divisions of the Appalachian Highlands. The eastern panhandle lies in the Ridge and Valley region while the remainder is part of the Allegheny Plateau, to the west of a bold escarpment known as the Allegheny Front, and tilts toward the Ohio River.

The mean elevation of West Virginia is 1,500 ft (458 m), higher than any other state east of the Mississippi River. Spruce Knob is the highest point in the state standing at a height of 4,861 ft (1,483 m) above sea level. Major lowlands lie along the rivers, especially the Potomac, Ohio, and Kanawha. The lowest elevation is at a point on the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry. West Virginia has no natural lakes.

Most of the eastern panhandle drains into the Potomac River. The Ohio and its tributaries—the Monongahela, Little Kanawha, Kanawha, Guyandotte, and Big Sandy—drain most of the Allegheny Plateau section. There are numerous caverns in West Virginia. They include Seneca Caverns, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Organ Cave—from limestone beds.