Pocono Mountains

The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos (/ˈpoʊkənoʊz/), are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north, Wyoming Valley and the Coal Region to the west and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The name Pocono is derived from the Munsee word Pokawachne, which means "Creek Between Two Hills".

Much of the Poconos region lies within the Greater New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area. The wooded hills and valleys have long been a popular recreation area, accessible within a two-hour drive to millions of metropolitan area residents, with many Pocono communities having resort hotels with fishing, hunting, skiing, and other sports facilities.

Although referred to usually as a mountain range, the area is actually an approximately 2,400-square-mile (6,200 km²) plateau. It is considered a sub-section of the larger Allegheny Plateau, and like most plateaus, is bordered by a notable escarpment. Despite these technicalities, it is considered a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Pocono Mountains are a popular recreational destination. While the area has long been a popular tourist destination, many communities have seen a rise in population, especially communities within Monroe County and Pike County. The region has a population of about 340,300, which is growing at a rapid pace. The Poconos now serve as a commuter community for New York City and North Jersey. The commute to workplaces often takes as much as two hours each way due to traffic.

The region includes three major municipalities: Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, and Mount Pocono, all located in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

The Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania are divided into six regions: the Mountain Region, the Lake Region, the Delaware River Region, the Upper Delaware River Region, the Wyoming Valley, and the Lehigh River Gorge Region.^{[failed verification]}

The Poconos are served by many state highways. The most used of these highways include PA 115, PA 715, PA 903 (designated in some areas as the "Highway to Adventure" because of the numerous venues and resorts along the highway), Pennsylvania Route 33, Pennsylvania Route 940, and PA 611. PA 309, a major north-south route connecting Northeastern Pennsylvania with the Delaware Valley Region, passes through the western end of the region.

There are two U.S. highways in the Pocono Mountains Region. The more used is US 209, which goes from Ulster, New York, to Millersburg, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg. The route's midpoint is in the region north of Stroudsburg. The other main U.S. Highway in the region is US 6, which is a transcontinental highway that starts near Bishop, California, and runs for over 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to its eastern terminus in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It is designated a scenic route in Pennsylvania. US 11, US 22, and US 46 are also not far from the region and serve it indirectly.