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Forested Hill Country See also Forests The southern and eastern sections of Ohio are part of the Appalachian plateau, the foothills of the mountains. Here, the rugged sandstone hills halted the vast glaciers of the Pleistocene Ice Age. From the escarpment, or fringed edge of the plateau, at Great Seal, on can gaze eastward across ridge after ridge rolling away to the horizon. A look to the west across the broad valley of the Scioto River reveals flat till plains left by ice sheets. Although the ice never reached parks such as Lake Hope and Pike Lake, melt-waters greatly increased the flow in streams, hastening the cutting of the valleys. This stream erosion continues today and is the dominant feature in the plateau, creating rugged topography. Damming of preglacial rivers by ice led to a new master drainage system, which is centered on the Ohio River and is visible from Forked Run. The forests at these parks provide seemingly endless wild places for the enjoyment of nature. Hiking trails trace the ridges in each park and, at Scioto Trail and Tar Hollow, lead adventurers far from the beaten path. Each park also provides a quite, wooden campground. The beauty of the hill country is showcased at Hocking Hills. A walk through a narrow-walled gorge of the Blackhand sandstone tells of a time 330 million years ago when large rivers flowed out of the mountains to the east and southeast and deposited the sand and gravel that would become rock. Much later, glacial melt-waters would rush through the present park, cutting deep ravines in the resistant sandstone. Miles of hiking trails wind through the resultant maze of hemlock-shaded gorges and along the edge of towering cliffs.See also Forests
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