From Nippenose Spring, the headwaters of Antes Creek, the water flows three miles out of the valley through Bald Eagle Mountain and into the West Branch near the New Jersey shore.

Signs of recovery on a once-defoliated mountainside in Palmerton, Carbon County, near the site of the New Jersey Zinc operation.  For more information, visit the EPA's Palmerton Zinc website.

An karst feature in Nippenose Valley, called a karst window.

"A karst window is a special type of sinkhole that gives us a view, or window, into the karst aquifer. A karst window has a spring on one end, a surface-flowing stream across its bottom, and a swallow hole at the other end. The stream is typically at the top of the water table. Karst windows develop by both dissolution and collapse of the bedrock. Many karst windows originated as collapse sinkholes." (from James C. Currens, Kentucky Geological Survey)

This photo was taken in Cumberland Cemetery in Lima, PA.  This tombstone serves as an excellent example of a source for interdisciplinary studies for students.  Students studying Earth science can examine the rock type of the tombstone.  Biology/Life Science students can look at the dates of birth and death to examine human lifespan and longevity.  History students can look at the symbols and their meaning - in this case, the ship and date 1620 means that one of the people buried at this site is a descendent from someone that came over on the Mayflower.  Search the PAESTA Classroom for an exercise relating to a tombstone investigation with students.

If you viewed the 3-part PBS series on Your Inner Fish, then you have already been introduced to the tetrapod that captures the transition of life moving from water on to land.  This fossil specimen, classified as the Tiktaalik roseae, is temporarily housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.  To learn more about the Tiktaalik roseae, visit our online collection of resources relating to the book and mini-series. 

The Pennsylvania Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation has over 150 nurseries that are working to restore the American Chestnut tree to the forests and woodlands of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic states.  The American Chestnut was once the dominant tree in our forests before it was erradicated by a fungus.  In fact, many Pennsylvania forests consisted of 25% American Chestnut.  The PA-TACF has its headquarters in State College, PA, and is working to develop a blight-resistant American chestnut tree via scientific research and breeding, and looks to restore the tree to its native forests along the eastern United States.  Pictured here is one of the three nurseries on the Penn State University Park campus.

The winter storms in February 2014 were especially strong in southeast Pennsylvania.  This downed tree, cut in to sections, clearly reveals the internal tree rings.

Winter 2014 is a season we won't forget very soon in Pennsylvania.  Southeastern Pennsylvania was hit especially hard, with periods of melting creating some impressive icicles, such as those seen here hanging from the room of Lachford Hall at Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA.