Thoroughfare Gap, VA ((tags: water gap, fluvial, mountain belt, appalachian))

Thoroughfare Gap, Virginia (38.8224 Lat, -77.7132 Long) is a prominent water gap in the Appalachian mountain belt. Broad Run has created a classic V-shaped water gap in the long linear trend of the Bull Run Mountains. This location is the eastern margin of the Blue Ridge physiographic province, where it meets the western edge of the Triassic-Jurassic Culpeper Basin of the Piedmont physiographic province. A close look reveals three north-south-trending ridges in the mountains: these are the more resistant layers within the Cambrian Chilhowee Group, a transgressive sequence draped atop the Blue Ridge's basement massif. The overall structure of the Blue Ridge is an anticlinorium; here at the eastern margin, the bedding dips to the east.

If you visit this area, the best parking will be found on Route 55, at the Broad Run post office, just east of the narrowest part of the gap. Besides Route 55 (and Broad Run), Interstate 66 squeezes through, and a railroad line as well. Natural gateways like Thoroghfare Gap have been fundamental pathways for human migrations since humans populated this area. You could even say that gaps like this one were very tempting to turn into... thoroughfares.

The charismatic, towering Chapman's Mill is also located at this gap: http://www.chapmansmill.org/