Elevation

Elevation in the Susquehanna River Basin ranges from sea level at the mouth in Havre de Grace, MD, to 3,130’ at the summit of Blue Knob in Bedford County, PA, in the southwest portion of the Basin. Elevation or topography patterns generally align with the physiographic provinces of the Basin. The southeast portion of the Basin, known as the Piedmont, and the valley extending along the Susquehanna River as far north as Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre, have relatively low rolling topography less than 1000’ and as such, include the largest concentrations of agriculture and urban development in the Basin.

The Appalachian Mountains cross the Basin diagonally from the central east to the southwest and are characterized by a valley and ridge topography. Moving north and west, elevations increase on average on the Appalachian Plateau. This is the largest region of similar topography and contains the most rural and forested portions of the Basin. Sharp contrasts in elevation exist throughout this landscape between the generally high, flat plateau and where streams have eroded steep, narrow valleys.