Natural Features & Ecosystems

When visiting the park, the natural features of the area can almost be overwhelming. From the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains that steeply rise above the historic district to the rushing waters of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers bordering the town, one is in awe of the surrounding beauty. Seventy percent of the park is covered with eastern deciduous forest with the predominant soil type here being a shaly silt loam. Quartzite, phyllite, and limestone are the predominant rock types, each playing a role in the formation of such popular sights as the Stone Steps and the water gap. Floodplain communities line the banks of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Visitors can experience these plus many more beautiful and exciting natural features.

 

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  Flood Plains

  Environment along the shores of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers

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  Forests

  Approximately 70 percent of the park is covered in eastern deciduous forest

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  Geologic Formations

  Formations include chevron folks of Maryland and Loudoun Heights and the famous Stone Steps

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  Mountains

  The park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountain section of the Appalachian Mountain Range

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  Rivers and Streams

  Harpers Ferry sits at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers

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  Soils

  Common soil associations found within the park

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  Wetlands, Marshes, and Swamps

  Harpers Ferry contains over 100 acres of wetlands