I grew up in Elkhorn City. I always knew Pine Mountain. I always knew the Breaks. What I just found out is the bigger picture behind all of it.
Turns out my hometown sits on the Cumberland Plateau. It's right at the foot of Pine Mountain, and it's the gateway into the Breaks.
Here's the part that surprised me. The Cumberland Plateau is the longest stretch of hardwood forest plateau in the world. It runs through Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of Alabama and Georgia. Rivers cut through it over time, which is why the land is full of gorges, cliffs, and waterfalls instead of flat ground. That's exactly what the Breaks looks like.
It's also a fragile place. Fifty-eight species living there are threatened or endangered, so there's ongoing work to protect them.
I've stood at the Towers Overlook more times than I can count. Turns out I was standing on a world record the whole time and didn't even know it.
Elkhorn City is a beautiful place, and I'm proud to call it home.