Lehigh Gap, Water gap in Washington Township and East Penn Township, Pennsylvania, United States.
Description
Lehigh Gap is a water gap where the Lehigh River cuts through the Blue Mountain, creating a natural passage between Carbon County in the north and Lehigh County in the south. The valley features steep rock walls on both sides and is crossed by Pennsylvania Route 248.
History
The area became an important transportation route in the 1800s when four separate railroad companies operated tracks through the gap. The Lehigh and New England Railroad built a bridge across the river that still stands as an abandoned structure.
Culture
The Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor Trail intersects with the gap, providing opportunities for hiking and outdoor recreation along the historic transportation route.
Practical
The area is easily reached via Pennsylvania Route 248, which runs through the gap and connects larger cities like Allentown and Bethlehem with smaller communities. The Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor Trail offers hiking with 15 miles of paths across 750 acres of managed land.
Did you know?
The Lehigh Gap Nature Center manages the site and focuses on ecological recovery after industrial mining left the area heavily polluted with lead and other contamination. Today visitors can observe how nature slowly returns to this once-damaged landscape.
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