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Adirondack Mountains

Much of the following text dates from 1911. Much of it needs to be updated.


The Adirondack mountain range are a group of mountains in north-eastern New York, U.S.A., in Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties, often included by geographers in the Appalachian Mountains, but pertaining geologically to the Laurentian Mountains of Canada. They are bordered on the east by Lake Champlain, which separates them from the Green Mountains.They are also bordered to the south by the Shawangunk Ridge.

Contents

The Land

The Park

A large portion of the Adirondack range is encompassed within the constitutionally protected 6 million acres (24,000 km²) of Adirondack State Park, which includes a forest preserve of approximately 2.3 million acres (9,300 km²). The Adirondacks contain a number of lakes, including Lake Placid, two-time site of the Olympic Winter Games.

The Mountains

Unlike the Appalachians, the Adirondacks do not form a connected range, but consist of many summits, isolated or in groups, arranged with little appearance of system. There are about one hundred peaks, ranging from 370 m to 1500 m (1200 to 5000 ft.) in height; the highest peak, Mt. Marcy (called by the Indians Tahawus or "cloud-splitter"), is near the eastern part of the group and attains an elevation of 1629 m (5344 ft). Other noted High Peaks include Algonquin (formerly Mt. McIntyre), 1570? m (5114 ft), Haystack 1510? m (4960 ft.), Skylight 1500? m (4926 ft.), Whiteface 1485 m (4871 ft), Dix 1478? m (4857 ft.), and Giant 1400? m (4627 ft).

The High Peaks

Forty-six of the tallest mountains are considered "the 46" peaks over 4000 ft (1,219 m), thanks to a survey done around the start of the 20th century. Since then, better surveys (and perhaps erosion) have shown that four of these peaks (Blake Peak , Cliff & Nye , and Couchsachraga ) are in fact just under 4000 ft (1,219 m), and one peak just over 4000 ft (1,219 m). (McNaughton ) was overlooked.

There are many fans of the Adirondak mountains who make an effort to climb all of the original 46 mountains (and most go on to climb McNaughton as well), and there is a 46ers club for those who have successfully reached each of these peaks. 20 of the 46 remain trailless to this day, so climbing them requires bushwhacking and following herd paths to the top.


Geology

These mountains, consisting of various sorts of gneiss, intrusive granite and gabbro, have been formed partly by faulting but mainly by erosion, the lines of which have been determined by the presence of faults or the presence of relatively soft rocks. Lower Palaeozoic strata lap up on to the crystalline rocks on all sides of the mountain group. The region is rich in magnetic iron ores, which though mined for many years are not yet fully developed (Is this still true?). Other mineral products are graphite, garnet used as an abrasive, pyrite and zinc ore. There is also a great quantity of Titanium, which was mined extensively.

The mountains form the water-parting between the Hudson and the St. Lawrence rivers. On the south and south-west the waters flow either directly into the Hudson, which rises in the centre of the group, or else reach it through the Mohawk River. On the north and east the waters reach the St. Lawrence by way of Lakes George and Champlain, and on the west they flow directly into that stream or reach it through Lake Ontario. The most important streams within the area are the Hudson, Black, Oswegatchie , Grass, Raquette, Saranac and Ausable rivers.

The region was once covered, with the exception of the higher summits, by the Laurentian glacier , whose erosion, while perhaps having little effect on the larger features of the country, has greatly modified it in detail, producing lakes and ponds, whose number is said to exceed 1300, and causing many falls and rapids in the streams. Among the larger lakes are the Upper and Lower Saranac, Big and Little Tupper, Schroon, Placid, Long, Raquette and Blue Mountain. The region known as the Adirondack Wilderness, or the Great North Woods, embraces between 13,000 km2 and 16,000 km2 (5000 and 6000 square miles) of mountain, lake, plateau and forest, which for scenic grandeur is almost unequalled in any other part of the United States.


Spelling

The mountains are sometimes known as the Adirondaks, without a "c", and the main lodge for visitors is officially known as the Adirondak Loj . These phonetic spellings are due to the former owner of the lodge, noted librarian Melville Dewey, who was a strong advocate of phonetic spelling.


Older, dated information

The next paragraphs are truly dated. What can be updated, what needs to go?

The mountain peaks are usually rounded and easily scaled, and as roads have been constructed over their slopes and in every direction through the forests, all points of interest may be easily reached by stage. There used to be many railroads in the region but most are no longer functioning. The surface of most of the lakes lies at an elevation of over 1500 ft (457 m). above the sea; their shores are usually rocky and irregular, and the wild scenery within their vicinity has made them very attractive to the tourist. The region is a popular tourist attraction because of its natural beauty. Cabins, hunting lodges, villas and hotels are numerous. The resorts most frequented are in the vicinity of the Saranac and St. Regis Lakes and Lake Placid.

In the Adirondacks are some of the best hunting and fishing grounds in the eastern United States. Owing to the restricted period allowed for hunting, deer and small game are abundant, and the brooks, rivers, ponds and lakes are well stocked with trout and black bass. At the head of Lake Placid stands Whiteface Mountain, from whose summit one of the finest views of the Adirondacks may be obtained. Two miles (3 km) south-east of this lake, at North Elba, is the old farm of the abolitionist John Brown, which contains his grave and is much frequented by visitors. Lake Placid is the principal source of the Ausable River , which for a part of its course flows through a rocky chasm from 100 to 175 ft (30 to 53 m). deep and rarely over 30 ft (10 m) wide. At the head of the Ausable Chasm are the Rainbow Falls, where the stream makes a vertical leap of 70 ft.

Another impressive feature of the Adirondacks is Indian Pass, a gorge about eleven miles (18 km) long, between Mt. McIntyre and Wallface Mountain. The latter is a majestic cliff rising vertically from the pass to a height of 1300 ft (400 m). Keene Valley, in the centre of Essex County, is another picturesque region, presenting a pleasing combination of peaceful valley and rugged hills. Though the climate during the winter months is very severe--the temperature sometimes falling as low as -42 °F (-41 °C), a number of sanitarium s were located there in the early 1900s, largely due to the positive effect the air had on tuberculosis patients. The region is heavily forested with spruce, pine and broad-leaved trees. Lumbering was once an important industry, but it has been much restricted by the creation of a state forest preserve (this is Adirondack State Park, which is discussed above.)

Again, these resources need to be updated.

For a description of the Adirondacks, see S. R. Stoddard, The Adirondacks Illustrated (24th ed., Glen Falls, 1894); and E. R. Wallace, Descriptive Guide to the Adirondacks (Syracuse, 1894). For geology and mineral resources consult the Reports of the New York State Geologist and the Bulletins of the New York State Museum.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.

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Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45