Pennsylvania's Abandoned Mines: A Coal-ection of Fun Facts (and a Scary Number)
Ah, Pennsylvania. Land of cheesesteaks, liberty bells, and... a whole lot of abandoned mines. But just how many are we talking about? Buckle up, because this number is about to blow your socks off (assuming you're not wearing any thanks to a particularly chilly mine shaft you wandered into earlier).
The Big Reveal: A Number So Big It Should Wear a Top Hat
Brace yourselves, because the estimated number of abandoned mines in Pennsylvania is a whopping 11,249. That's right, over eleven thousand! That's more abandoned mines than there are counties in the entire state (there are 67, for the curious geo-whiz). Imagine a game of Pennsylvania Bingo, but instead of numbers, it's abandoned mines. You'd be yelling "BINGO!" faster than you can say "schuylkill."
Not All Abandoned Mines Are Created Equal: A Subterranean Sorting System
QuickTip: Skim slowly, read deeply.
Now, not all abandoned mines are like something out of a horror movie (although some definitely have that creepy vibe going). The good folks at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) categorize these abandoned mines into two groups:
- The "Yikes, This Needs Attention" Bunch: This category holds a not-so-charming 9,977 mines. These guys are the troublemakers, causing environmental issues or posing health and safety risks. Think sinkholes, water contamination, and enough methane gas to fuel a small barbecue competition.
- The "Relatively Well-Behaved" Crew: There are about 1,272 mines in this group. They might not be winning any awards, but at least they're not actively causing problems (for now).
Fun Facts That May or May Not Be Fun (But Are Definitely Interesting)
- Pennsylvania has the dubious honor of having the most abandoned coal mines in the entire US. That's a lot of unwanted coal-ifications.
- The abandoned mines are a constant battleground for the DEP. They're constantly working on reclamation efforts, which basically means cleaning up the environmental mess and making sure these abandoned mines don't turn into sinkholes that swallow unsuspecting tourists.
- Some people are actually trying to turn these abandoned mines into... wait for it... tourist attractions! Can you imagine rappelling down a mineshaft for fun? No? Me neither.
QuickTip: Every section builds on the last.
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| How Many Abandoned Mines Are In Pennsylvania |
How Many Abandoned Mines FAQ
How to find out if there are abandoned mines near me?
The Pennsylvania DEP has an interactive map of abandoned mine lands: [search for PA Abandoned Mine Lands map].
Tip: Don’t just scroll to the end — the middle counts too.
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How to avoid abandoned mines?
Always stick to marked trails and avoid wandering into any fenced-off areas.
How to become a coal miner (since there are so many mines, right?)
Tip: Reread complex ideas to fully understand them.
Actually, coal mining is a dangerous profession. There are far safer ways to make a living (unless ghost hunting is your thing, then abandoned mines might be your dream come true).
How to help clean up abandoned mines?
You can support organizations that work on mine reclamation efforts.
How to forget this whole thing and focus on something pleasant, like cheesesteaks?
Now you're talking my language!
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