Last updated: June 14, 2024
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NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Washington D.C., Maryland, and West Virginia
Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the park. A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas delivers information in support of education, Geoconservation, and integrated management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.
Introduction
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (CHOH) follows the route of the 297 km (184.5 mi)-long canal along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland. Built between 1828 and 1850, CHOH crosses portions of Alleghany, Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington Counties, Maryland, and abuts Berkeley, Hampshire, Jefferson, Mineral, and Morgan Counties, West Virginia; and Washington, D.C. The upper canal of CHOH was proclaimed a national monument on January 18, 1961, and the park unit was later redesignated and expanded as a national historical park on January 8, 1971 (National Park Service 2016a). Inspired by George Washington’s vision of an industrial corridor along the Potomac River, CHOH served as an important transportation route that was primarily used to deliver coal from western Maryland to the port of Georgetown in Washington, D.C. (Thornberry-Ehrlich 2005). The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historical Park preserves the 19th century canal, more than 1,300 historic structures, the scenic 24 km (15 mi)-long Potomac Gorge, and archeological resources that document 13,000 years of human habitation along the Potomac River (National Park Service 2013b).Geologic Setting
Along its entire length, CHOH traverses three physiographic provinces in eastern North America (from east to west): 1) Piedmont Plateau; 2) Blue Ridge; and 3) Valley and Ridge. The main obstacle the C&O Canal was constructed to alleviate is known as the Fall Line, a transition zone from softer, less consolidated rocks of the Coastal Plain to more resistant metamorphic rocks of the Piedmont Plateau. The Fall Line forms an area of ridges, waterfalls, and rapids that stretch over 32 km (20 mi) of the Potomac River from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Seneca Falls with Great Falls being an iconic viewpoint in the Potomac Gorge (Southworth and Denenny 2006). The bedrock underlying CHOH is a diverse assemblage of formations spanning from the Precambrian to the Mesozoic. Some of the oldest rocks mapped along the C&O Canal include Mesoproterozoicage metamorphic and meta-igneous rocks, with the youngest units represented by Jurassic-age diabase dikes in the region of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Along its traverse CHOH provides an excellent opportunity to examine a cross-sectional view of the complex geology of the central Appalachian Mountains region and understand how the canals construction contributed to the development of the area (Southworth et al. 2001).Paleontological Resources
All NPS fossil resources are protected under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11, Title VI, Subtitle D; 16 U.S.C. §§ 470aaa - 470aaa-11).
Cave and Karst
All NPS cave resources are protected under the the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 (FCRPA)(16 U.S.C. § 4301 et seq.).
Abandoned Mineral Lands
NPS AML sites can be important cultural resources and habitat, but many pose risks to park visitors and wildlife, and degrade water quality, park landscapes, and physical and biological resources. Be safe near AML sites—Stay Out and Stay Alive!
Regional Geology
C&O Canal National Historical Park cuts across the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge Physiographic Provinces and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with these regions that extends well beyond park boundaries.
The Geologic Resources Inventory produces digital geologic maps and reports for more than 270 natural resource parks. The products listed below are currently available for this park, check back often for updates as many maps, reports, and posters are still in progress.
- Scoping summaries are records of scoping meetings where NPS staff and local geologists determined the park’s geologic mapping plan and what content should be included in the report.
- Digital geologic maps include files for viewing in GIS software, a guide to using the data, and a document with ancillary map information. Newer products also include data viewable in Google Earth and online map services.
- Reports use the maps to discuss the park’s setting and significance, notable geologic features and processes, geologic resource management issues, and geologic history.
- Posters are a static view of the GIS data in PDF format. Newer posters include aerial imagery or shaded relief and other park information. They are also included with the reports.
- Projects list basic information about the program and all products available for a park.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2786. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and can be found on the NPS Data Store.
Source: Data Store Saved Search 2848. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
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