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Sauratown Mountains

↑About the Sauratown Mountains

The Sauratown Mountains are an isolated mountain range that is geologically part of the Blue Ridge, but is separated from it, located to the southeast, where it is surrounded by the lower-elevation, flatter Piedmont. The Sauratown Mountains are completely contained within North Carolina, and consist of a larger piece to the east, and to the west, the isolated Pilot Mountain.

The knobs and ridges of this region rise over 1,000 feet above their surroundings. This region exists largely due to the peaks and ridges being capped by erosion-resistant quartzite. The highest point, Moore's Knob, reaches 2,579 ft (786 m), and Pilot Mountain reaches 2,421 ft (738 m). The slopes are relatively flat, with relatively little dissection by streams. The shape of the terrain is asymmetrical, with more gentle, convex-topped slopes to the northwest, and steeper, convex slopes to the southeast. The southeast side features extensive bedrock outcroppings and cliffs, many with steep, nearly-vertical faces, and talus slopes beneath these.

The vegetation here is a mix of species found in the Piedmont and the more mountainous Blue Ridge. Forests are mostly mixed oak and oak-pine, with eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in moist, sheltered sites and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) on moist, rocky slopes, and pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and table mountain pine (Pinus pungens) on drier, exposed ridges and rocky slopes. The understory features rhododendron and azalea (Rhododendron sp.), beetleweed (Galax urceolata), and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia).

Much of this region consists of protected public land, in the east in Hanging Rock State Park, and in the west in Pilot Mountain State Park. The region is sparsely populated, with only a small number of residences, mostly around the margins of this area, at lower elevations; the unincorporated community of Gap, NC is also located here.

This region is entirely surrounded by the Northern Inner Piedmont, which is relatively flatter and lower elevation, although still somewhat rugged, and which has a lower percentage of forest cover and noticeably more dissected terrain, particularly evident at the borders of these two regions.

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↑References

1. Comstock, J.A.; Griffith, G.E.; Omernik, J.M. "Ecoregions of North Carolina: Regional Descriptions", (2002) Web.