Topographical Impacts of Mountaintop Mining in the Mud River Watershed (IMAGE)

Duke University

Topographical Impacts of Mountaintop Mining in the Mud River Watershed

Caption

Years of blowing away mountain ridges in search of coal and depositing the excess rock in nearby valleys have dramatically flattened the landscape in parts of Central Appalachia. These maps show the elevation of West Virginia's Mud River watershed before and after mountaintop mining became widespread. To see the impact on other West Virginia watersheds, visit http://www.minedwatersheds.com/.

Credit

Photo courtesy of Matthew Ross, Duke University.

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