Location map of the Appalachian Plateaus in Virginia. The Appalachian Plateaus occupies a few counties in the southwestern corner of the state. (Image from the Colleg of William & Mary geology website, courtesy of C.M. Bailey)
View of the escarpment along the eastern edge of the Appalachian Plateaus near Cumberland Gap. This imposing wall, composed of late Paleozoic sandstone and conglomerate, contrasts sharply with the low valley marking the western edge of the Valley and Ridge. This escarpment (called the Allegheny Front) was a major barrier to westward migration during the early days of American history. (Photograph by Phyllis Newbill)