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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
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==Geography== [[File:West-central Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.JPG|thumb|The [[Susquehanna River]] from the Mocanaqua Loop Trail in [[Conyngham Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Conyngham Township]] in February 2008]] [[File:Scenery of Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|[[Dallas Township, Pennsylvania|Dallas Township]] in August 2016]] [[File:View of Nuremberg, Pennsylvania from the south.JPG|thumb|[[Nuremberg, Pennsylvania|Nuremberg]] in October 2014]] [[File:Boats on Harveys Lake.JPG|thumb|[[Harveys Lake (Pennsylvania)|Harveys Lake]] in June 2015]] [[File:Ricketts Glen State Park Canoes.jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of two red canoes on a sandy lake shore lined with trees. There are other canoes, kayaks and boats in the background, with a blue sky above.|Canoes on the shores of [[Lake Jean]] in [[Ricketts Glen State Park]], July 2010]] According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|906|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|890|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|16|sqmi}}, or 1.8%, is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The highest point in the county is [[Cherry Run (South Branch Bowman Creek)|Cherry Ridge]] in [[Fairmount Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Fairmount Township]]. The ridge is {{convert|2460|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13321|title=Pennsylvania County High Points |website=Peakbagger.com |date=November 1, 2004 |access-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref> The lowest point, of about {{convert|512|ft|m}}, can be found near [[Shickshinny, Pennsylvania|Shickshinny]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luzernecounty.org/35/Live-Work#:~:text=County%20Geography&text=The%20ridge%20is%202%2C460%20feet,and%20lastly%20streams%20and%20river.|title=Living and Working Here - Lucerne County, Pennsylvania|accessdate=11 November 2022}}</ref> Luzerne County consists of 76 independently governing [[List of municipalities in Pennsylvania|municipalities]] (which includes 4 [[List of cities in Pennsylvania|cities]], 36 [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania|boroughs]], and 36 [[List of townships in Pennsylvania|townships]]). [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] is the largest city; it has a total area of {{convert|7.2|sqmi}}. [[Pittston, Pennsylvania|Pittston]], with a total area of {{convert|1.7|sqmi}}, is the smallest city. [[Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania|Harveys Lake]] is the largest borough; it has a total area of {{convert|6.2|sqmi}}. [[Jeddo, Pennsylvania|Jeddo]], with a total area of {{convert|0.3|sqmi}}, is the smallest borough. [[Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania|Bear Creek]] is the largest township; it has a total area of {{convert|67.8|sqmi}}. [[Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre Township]], with a total area of {{convert|2.9|sqmi}}, is the smallest. The [[Wyoming Valley]], also referred to as the [[Anthracite]] Valley Section of Pennsylvania, runs directly through Luzerne County. It extends from the northeastern border (with [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]]) to the western border (with [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Columbia County]]). The valley is flat (at the [[Susquehanna River|Susquehanna]] Basin) and rises from {{convert|512|to|2000|ft|m}} in some places. Bear Creek, on the eastern side of the valley, has a mean elevation of about {{convert|2000|ft|m}}, while Shickshinny, on the Susquehanna Basin, is about {{convert|512|ft|m}}. The county is crossed by a series of east-to-west mountains (e.g., [[Buck Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Buck Mountain]], [[Nescopeck Mountain]], [[Penobscot Knob]], and [[Red Rock Mountain]]). They are all part of the [[Appalachian Mountain Range]]. The [[Susquehanna River]] is the largest river in the county. There are several [[River island|islands]] located within the river; for example, Scovell Island (near Pittston), Monocanock Island (near [[Wyoming, Pennsylvania|Wyoming]]), and Richard Island (near Wilkes-Barre). The Susquehanna drains most of the county (including [[Bowman Creek]], [[Huntington Creek (Pennsylvania)|Huntington Creek]], the [[Lackawanna River]], [[Nescopeck Creek]], [[Solomon Creek]], and many other streams). The [[Lehigh River]], which forms part of Luzerne County's southeastern border, drains the easternmost region. Dozens of lakes and ponds are also scattered throughout the county (e.g., [[Harveys Lake (Pennsylvania)|Harveys Lake]], [[Lake Jean]], [[Lake Louise (Pennsylvania)|Lake Louise]], and [[Lily Lake (Pennsylvania)|Long Pond]]). Luzerne County consists of several urban areas. The first is a contiguous quilt-work of former anthracite coal mining communities (including the cities of Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, and [[Nanticoke, Pennsylvania|Nanticoke]]). It is located in the northeastern and central part of the county (in the Wyoming Valley). The second is [[Hazleton, Pennsylvania#Greater Hazleton|Greater Hazleton]] and it is located in the southern portion of the county. Other urban areas include the [[Back Mountain]] (in northern Luzerne County) and [[Mountain Top, Pennsylvania|Mountain Top]] (between Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton). Thick [[forests]] and small farming communities are located just outside the urban centers. ===State parks and forests=== * There are four [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|state parks]] in Luzerne County: ** [[Frances Slocum State Park]] (northern Luzerne County) ** [[Lehigh Gorge State Park]] (eastern Luzerne County) ** [[Nescopeck State Park]] (southern Luzerne County) ** [[Ricketts Glen State Park]] (western Luzerne County) * There is only one [[List of Pennsylvania state forests|state forest]] in Luzerne County: ** [[Pinchot State Forest]], which includes [[Moon Lake Park]] and [[Seven Tubs Recreation Area]] * Other [[outdoor recreation|recreational]] areas: ** [[Bear Creek Camp Conservation Area]] ** [[Lehigh Gorge Trail]] ** [[Susquehanna Warrior Trail]]<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Susquehanna%20Warrior%20Trail,%20Luzerne,%20PA Susquehanna Warrior Trail, PA β Google Maps]. Maps.google.com (January 1, 1970). Retrieved on July 23, 2013.</ref> ===Adjacent counties=== * [[Wyoming County, Pennsylvania|Wyoming County]] (north) * [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]] (northeast) * [[Monroe County, Pennsylvania|Monroe County]] (east) * [[Carbon County, Pennsylvania|Carbon County]] (southeast) * [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill County]] (south) * [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Columbia County]] (west) * [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Sullivan County]] (northwest) <gallery widths="250px" heights="150px" class="center"> File:Adams Falls (1) (8213883793).jpg|[[Waterfalls in Ricketts Glen State Park|Adams Falls]], Ricketts Glen State Park File:Grand View Trail (1).jpg|Grand View Trail, Ricketts Glen State Park File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Burnished (1).jpg|Hayfields, Ricketts Glen State Park File: Nescopeck State PArk Perched.jpg|Summit of Mount Yeager, [[Nescopeck State Park]] </gallery>
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