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The Richness And Beauty Of Pennsylvania's Natural Resources
Pennsylvania is one of those US states that is blessed with natural resources. The assets of the state are categorized into two: water resources and land resources, which include its forests and wildlife, and minerals.
Though Pennsylvania's surface water accounts for just a little over 1% of the state's total covered area, this gives the state a total of 104 watersheds and more than 80,000 miles of streams. The state's water resources provide the state with the water it needs not only for drinking but also for washing and recreational opportunities like fishing, boating, swimming, and yachting. Fishing and boating are two most popular water-related activities in the state, favored by both locals and tourists. Based on the records of Fish and Boat Commission, there are 150,000 boats registered to local owners, and 9,000 to owners living outside the state. Around 14% of the state residents engage in fishing, and there are nearly 500,000 fishing permits issued to local residents. Rural anglers count for approximately 52% of the population.
On the other hand, more than 65% of the total land area is covered with forests, classified as evergreen deciduous, and mixed. This roughly translates to 5 forested acres in every 7 acres of land. Yet only 13% of the forests are federal and government-owned, and state ownership ensures that Pennsylvania continues to have economic and recreation resources in the future.
Pennsylvania has developed more than a hundred state parks with the objective of providing visitors places to experience the beauty and richness of the state's environmental resources. The state's forests as well as streams and other natural habitats are home to many plants and animals, including endangered ones. They don't disappoint. In 2002, the parks had more than 32 million visitors.
About 340 businesses in the state are engaged in forestry and logging based on the census data of the County Business Patterns. Forestry and logging also provide work for more than a thousand Pennsylvanians. The state's forests provide woods for fuel as well as materials for carpentry and construction.
One of the most abundant natural resources in Pennsylvania is coal. There are two types of coal produced by the state: soft coal and hard coal. Hard coal or anthracite is found mostly in the northeastern part of the state while soft or bituminous coal is in the southwestern region.
Approximately 97% of coal in the US comes from Pennsylvania. It is estimated that there are still 7 billion tons of coal buried deep below the state's surface -- this amount can supply the entire country with coal for 30 years!
Not surprisingly, coal mining is one of the biggest industries in the state (which is why we have the so-called Pennsylvania steel). Coal mining is found in 8 counties in the state: Dauphi, Columbia, Carbon, Northumberland, Sullivan, Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Schuylkill.
Limestone or clay, oil, and natural gas are the non-coal products mined in the state. In fact, the first oil well in the country is located in Titusville, Crawford County. Fuel or natural gas serves as the main heating resource of Pennsylvanians.
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