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West Virginia, surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, is known as The
Mountain State. The state's past was dominated by coal mining, poverty and
geographic isolation.
Today visitors come here to explore historical sights, get to know the music
and handicrafts of the region or to pursue one of the many leisure activities
possible here, such as skiing and mountain biking, white water rafting, hiking
or fishing. The winding roads are ideal for motorcycling.
West Virginia’s origins are unique in the history of the United States. Until
the American Civil War, the country belonged to Virginia. But the northwestern
counties of Virginia split from the confederate southern states in 1861 and were
incorporated into the Union of the Northern States as a separate state of West
Virginia in 1863.
Numerous Civil War Trails (Internet: www.civilwartraveler.com)
lead interested visitors to the locations of the American Civil War, where
information boards and brochures provide information about historical events.
The city of Harpers Ferry is known for the John Brown raid in 1859, which
many believed was the first shots fired from the American Civil War. The
location also marks half of the Appalachian Trail, which is one of the longest
long-distance hiking trails in the world at 3,500 km and runs across West
Virginia.
The Allegheny Mountains, which are not very accessible to tourists, are only
a few hours' drive from the metropolises of the east coast and invite you to
rafting, mountain biking and climbing tours.
West of the village of Lewisburg is the New River Gorge, a 300 m deep gorge
that can only be reached by water. In addition to rafting, the gorge is also
suitable for paragliding.
Important facts
Land area: 62,755 sq km.
Population: 1,792,147 (2019 estimate)
Population density: 29 per sq. Km.
Capital: Charleston.
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service, you will need to use two-letter abbreviation for state name, for
example, West Virginia. Now, it comes to the question: what is the
abbreviation for
West Virginia.
Attractions in West Virginia
Vacation spots & excursions
The magnificent Monogahela National Forest with the
recreation and leisure region Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks covers a large
area in the east of this mountain state. Located in the Appalachian Mountains
and Allegheny Mountains, the forested landscape impresses with its austere
beauty. The numerous rivers and streams are known for their abundance of fish.
In Petersburg there are two extraordinary stone and rock
formations in the middle of a great mountain landscape, which are popular motifs
not only for amateur photographers: Smoke Hole Caverns and Seneca
Rocks.
In Moorefield Northeast of Petersburg, many beautiful Georgian
and Victorian houses with contemporary furniture from France and Italy have been
preserved. At the annual Hardy County Heritage Weekend in September,
they can be visited as well as the magnificent gardens.
In the far north-east of West Virginia is the old town of Harpers Ferry with
its pretty old brick houses and narrow streets. The surroundings are very
attractive, here the Potomac and the Shenandoah flow together, and there are no
limits to the joys of hiking. Information about the best routes can be obtained
from the Appalachian Trail Conference in Harpers Ferry.
Shepherdstown is the oldest city in the state, it was founded
around 1719 by German immigrants.
A visit to the oldest spa in the United States, Berkeley Springs,
is also interesting. Nearby Cacapon State Park is a nice recreation
area. The Canaan Valley State Park offers good winter
sports opportunities, and there are also tennis courts, a golf course, a heated
swimming pool, an ice rink and marked hiking trails.
You can also go skiing and ice skating at Coopers Rock near Morgantown in
the north on the Pennsylvania border. Spruce Knob is the highest
elevation in West Virginia at approximately 1600 m. It is located in the
aforementioned Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.
Further south, visitors can expect one of the state's largest tourist
attractions, the Cass Scenic Railroad. Throughout the summer, two and
four and a half hour tours with the steam locomotive are offered, which offer
breathtaking views of the imposing mountain landscape. The Watoga
State Park is the largest national park in West Virginia. Fully furnished
wooden houses can be rented here, advance booking is essential. Excellent
leisure facilities and sports facilities are available.
The south of West Virginia is known for its mineral springs, the healing powers
of which the Indians believed. The most famous bath is the picturesque White
Sulfur Springs. The local resort hotel Greenbrier is one of
the most luxurious in the world. Its guests include well-heeled stars,
politicians and noble families.
Lewisburg is a pretty little town worth visiting. The magical
old houses and the old-fashioned gas lanterns are extremely atmospheric and
create a homely atmosphere. The old Presbyterian church (late 18th century) is
also worth seeing.
Hinton is a city in the countryside, nearby is Pipestem,
one of the most beautiful American state parks with good sports and
leisure facilities and excellent accommodation options. The brave can go river
rafting on the Bluestone River.
Centers of economic, political and cultural life in West Virginia are Huntington and Charleston. Huntington
is the largest city in the state and offers interesting museums ( Huntington
Galleries), good leisure facilities and shopping opportunities. The nearby Cabwaylingo
State Forest is a popular vacation area. In the Kanawha River
Valley lies Charleston, capital of West Virginia since 1870. The State
Capitol in the Italian Renaissance style is considered one of the most
beautiful buildings in the USA.
In the west of the Ohio River Valley, pasture and orchards
dominate the landscape. Wheeling, the former capital, is an
interesting industrial city. Don't miss the Mansion House
Museum and Oglebay Park, one of the largest city
parks in the United States. Here you can go skiing, ice skating, watching
theater performances on the open-air stage, visiting museums and the zoo,
playing golf, swimming, riding, walking or just lounging.
Other tourist attractions include Mammoth Mound, one of the largest
prehistoric Indian burial sites, and Cathedral State Park at
Aurora on the West Virginia-Maryland border. A piece of primeval forest has been
preserved here on 50 hectares, and the majestic giant trees give an impression
of what the mountain regions of West Virginia once looked like.
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