The Central and southern Appalachian montane oak forest is a forest system found in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. These forests occur on exposed sites such as ridgecrests and south- to west-facing slopes, typically from about 3,000 to 4,500 feet (910 to 1,370 m) elevation, but sometimes extending to 5,500 feet (1,700 m). Soils are thin, weathered, nutrient-poor, low in organic matter, and acidic. Trees are often stunted and wind-flagged.