Salt River (Kentucky) - Geology

Geology

The river has a 2,920-square-mile (7,600 km2) drainage area and is the fifth largest watershed in the state. The terrain around the river is deeply ridged until it nears its outlet at the Ohio, near West Point. The river itself is roughly 480 to 500 feet (146 to 152 m) above sea level. The shallow river valley is 490 to 530 feet (150 to 160 m) above sea level, but there are usually steep hillsides that climb quickly to elevations at 650 to 750 feet (200 to 230 m), a common ground level in the central Kentucky area. This creates areas of flat topped ridges separated by narrow valleys or "hollows", often washed out by small creeks or streams draining into the river. Flash floods are common in these narrow valleys, and they complicate travel between ridges, often requiring a circuitous path. It was not uncommon for folks in the valley and folks on the ridge-tops to see each other infrequently.

The Salt River in Bullitt County contains class I rapids and is 11.5 miles (19 km). On cool mornings, fog fills the valley floor, stabilizing and cooling the temperature, while on the ridge, it may be hot and dry. Tobacco, corn and soybeans do well in the lower fields, even while droughts parched the drier, hotter ridges.