David Sturgeon, age 12, of Youngstown, Ohio, for his question:

WHAT IS THE CUMBERLAND GAP?

The Cumberland Gap is a natural pass through the Appalachian Mountains where Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee meet. It was the gateway to the West for early American pioneers. Between 1775 and 1880, more than 200,000 people went through the pass.

The gap is a narrow cut through the Cumberland Mountains. Its steep sides rise about 500 feet. One of the country's largest historical parks, the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, is located here on 20,273 acres. The spot is 1,600 feet above sea level.

In 1775 Daniel Boone blazed his famous wilderness Road through the pass. It was also the route for Union armies invading Tennessee in 1862 and 1863.