Three or four detached hills, rising to an elevation of 150 or 200 feet above the adjacent country, are the only ones of consequence met with in this section.

COMPARATIVE ALTITUDES.

The hilly character of Loudoun is clearly shown by the following exhibit of the elevation of points and places above tide-water.  The variations of altitude noted in this schedule are based upon conflicting estimates and distinct measurements made at two or more points within a given circumference and slightly removed one from the other.

Feet. 
Sterling                                  415
Ashburn                                   320
Leesburg                           321 to 337
Clarke’s Gap                       578 to 634
Hamilton                           454 to 521
Purcellville                       546 to 553
Round Hill                                558
Bluemont                           680 to 730
Snicker’s Gap                           1,085
Neersville                                626
Hillsborough                              550
Waterford                                 360
Mount Gilead                              600
Oatlands                                  270
Little River, near Aldie                  299
Middleburg                                480
Potomac River, near Seneca Dam            188
Potomac River, at Point of Rocks          200
Potomac River, at Harper’s Ferry          246

The whole of the county east of the Catoctin Mountain varies from 200 to 350 feet.  The eastern base of the Blue Ridge has an elevation of about 730 feet, and the highest peak of that range in Loudoun rises 1,600 feet above tide-water.

The Short Hills have an approximate altitude of 1,000 feet, while that of the Catoctin Mountain varies from 300 to 700 feet.  The valley between the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Mountains varies from 350 to 730 feet in elevation.

From many vantage points along the Blue Ridge may be obtained magnificent views of both the Loudoun and Shenandoah valleys.  The eye travels entirely across the fertile expanse of the latter to where, in the far distance, the Alleghany and North Mountains rear their wooded crests.  A few of the summits offer even more extensive prospects.  From some nearly all of Loudoun, with a considerable area of Fairfax and Fauquier, is in full view.  Other more distant areas within visionary range are portions of Prince William, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties, in Virginia, Frederick and Montgomery counties, in Maryland, and even some of Prince George County, east of Washington City.  Westward, the view embraces Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties, in Virginia, Berkeley and Jefferson counties, in West Virginia, Washington County, in Maryland, and some of the mountain summits of Pennsylvania.

DRAINAGE.