Cumberland Gap

The Cumberland Gap is a pass in the eastern United States through the long ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, within the Appalachian Mountains and near the tripoint of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. At an elevation of 1,631 feet (497 m) above sea level, it is famous in American colonial history for its role as a key passageway through the lower central Appalachians.

This article is about a mountain pass in the United States. For other uses, see Cumberland Gap (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Cumberland Narrows, a water gap near Cumberland, Maryland.
Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Gap in winter
Elevation1,631 ft (497 m)
Traversed by US 25E
Location Kentucky
 Tennessee
 Virginia
 United States
RangeCumberland Mountains
Coordinates36°36′15″N 83°40′25″W
Topo mapUSGS Middlesboro South
Location in the United States
Location in Virginia
Location in Kentucky

Long used by Native American nations, the Cumberland Gap was brought to the attention of settlers in 1750 by Thomas Walker, a Virginia physician and explorer. The path was used by a team of frontiersmen led by Daniel Boone, making it accessible to pioneers who used it to journey into the western frontiers of Kentucky and Tennessee. An important part of the Wilderness Road, it is now part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.