State of the United States
Physical and political features of New York
The
geography of New York (state)
varies widely. Most of
New York
is dominated by farms, forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes. New York's
Adirondack Park
is larger than any
U.S. National Park
in the
contiguous United States
.
[2]
Niagara Falls
, on the
Niagara River
as it flows from
Lake Erie
to
Lake Ontario
, is a popular attraction. The
Hudson River
begins near
Lake Tear of the Clouds
and flows south through the eastern part of the state without draining lakes
George
or
Champlain
. Lake George empties at its north end into Lake Champlain, whose northern end extends into
Canada
, where it drains into the
Richelieu River
and then the
St. Lawrence
. Four of New York City's five boroughs are on the three islands at the mouth of the Hudson River:
Manhattan Island
,
Staten Island
, and
Brooklyn
and
Queens
on
Long Island
.
"Upstate"
is a common term for New York counties north of suburban
Westchester
,
Rockland
and
Dutchess
counties. Upstate New York typically includes the Catskill Mountains or areas North of the Catskill Mountains, the Capital district, The Adirondacks, the Erie Canal,
Lake Champlain
,
Otsego Lake
,
Oneida Lake
; rivers such as the
Delaware
,
Genesee
,
Mohawk
, and
Susquehanna
. The highest elevation in New York is
Mount Marcy
of the
Adirondack Mountains
. New York is the 27th-largest state.
Location and size
[
edit
]
Location of New York in the United States
New York is located in the northeastern United States, in the
Mid-Atlantic
Census Bureau
division. New York covers an area of 54,556 square miles (141,299 km
2
) making it the 27th largest state by total area (but 30th by land area).
[3]
The state borders six
U.S. states
:
Pennsylvania
and
New Jersey
to the south, and
Connecticut
,
Rhode Island
(across
Long Island Sound
),
Massachusetts
, and
Vermont
to the east. New York also borders the
Canadian
provinces
of
Ontario
and
Quebec
to the north. Additionally, New York touches the
Atlantic Ocean
to the southeast, and two of the
Great Lakes
:
Lake Erie
to the west and
Lake Ontario
to the northwest.
Geology
[
edit
]
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New York is part of the
Marcellus Shale
, a
gas
-rich rock formation which also extends across Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
[4]
Topography
[
edit
]
Relief map
of New York (USGS)
New York lies upon the portion of the
Appalachian Mountains
where the mountains generally assume the character of hills and finally sink to a level of the lowlands that surround the great depression filled by
Lake Ontario
and the
St. Lawrence River
. Three distinct mountain masses can be identified in the state. The most easterly of these ranges?a continuation of the
Blue Ridge Mountains
of
Virginia
?enters the state from
New Jersey
and extends northeast through
Rockland
and
Orange
counties to the
Hudson River
, continuing on the east side of that river as the highlands of
Putnam
and
Dutchess
counties. A northerly extension of the same range passes into the
Green Mountains
of western
Massachusetts
and
Vermont
. This range is known in New York as the
Hudson Highlands
. The highest peaks are 1,000 to 1,700 feet (300 to 520 m) above sea level. The rocks that compose these mountains are principally primitive or
igneous
, and the mountains themselves are rough, rocky, precipitous, and unfit for cultivation.
[5]
The second series of mountains enters the state from
Pennsylvania
and extends northeast through
Sullivan
,
Ulster
, and
Greene
counties, terminating and culminating in the
Catskill Mountains
west of the Hudson. The highest peaks are 3,000 to 4,200 feet (910 to 1,280 m) above sea level. The
Shawangunk Mountains
, a high and continuous ridge extending between Sullivan and Orange counties and into the southern part of Ulster County, is the extreme eastern range of this series. The
Helderberg
and Hellibark Mountains are spurs extending north from the main range into
Albany
and
Schoharie
counties. This whole mountain system is principally composed of rocks of the New York system above the Medina sandstone. The summits are generally crowned with red
sandstone
and with the
conglomerate
of the coal measures. The declivities are steep and rocky, and a large share of the surface is too rough for cultivation.
[5]
The northeast
Appalachian Mountains
The third mountainous region, occupying the northeast part of the state, is known as the
Adirondack Mountains
. The region is bounded to the south by the
Mohawk River
, south of which the highlands become part of the
Allegheny Plateau
, in the form of broad, irregular hills, broken by the deep ravines of streams. The valley of the Mohawk separates the Allegheny Plateau to the south from the highlands leading to the Adirondacks to the north, reaching its narrowest point in the neighborhood of
Little Falls
, the Noses, and other places. North of the Mohawk the highlands extend northeast in several distinct ranges, all terminating upon
Lake Champlain
. The culminating point of the whole system, and the highest mountain in the state, is
Mount Marcy
, standing 5,344 feet (1,629 m) above sea level. The rocks of all this region are principally of igneous origin, and the mountains are usually wild, rugged, and rocky. A large share of the surface is entirely unfit for cultivation, but the region is rich in minerals, and especially in an excellent variety of
iron ore
.
Landscape regions of New York
In western New York, a series of hills forming spurs of the
Allegheny Mountains
enter the state from Pennsylvania and occupy the entire southern half of the west part of the state. An irregular line extending through the southerly counties forms the
watershed
that separates the northern and southern drainage; and from it the surface gradually declines northward until it finally terminates in the level of
Lake Ontario
. The portion of the state lying south of this watershed and occupying the greater part of the two southerly tiers of counties is entirely occupied by these hills. Along the Pennsylvania line they are usually abrupt and are separated by narrow ravines, but toward the north their summits become broader and less broken. A considerable portion of the highland region is too steep for profitable cultivation and is best adapted to grazing. The highest summits in
Allegany
and
Cattaraugus
counties are 2,000 to 2,500 feet (610 to 760 m) above sea level.
[5]
From the summits of the watershed, the highlands usually descend toward
Lake Ontario
in a series of terraces, the edges of which are outcrops of different rocks beneath the surface. These terraces are usually smooth, and, although inclined toward the north, the inclination is generally so slight that they appear level. Between the hills of the south and the level land of the north is a beautiful rolling region, the ridges gradually declining toward the north. In that part of the state, south of the most eastern mountain range, the surface is generally level or broken by low hills. In
Manhattan
and
Westchester County
, these hills are principally composed of primitive rocks. The surface of
Long Island
is generally level or gently undulating. A ridge 150 to 200 feet (46 to 61 m) high, composed of sand, gravel, and clay, extends east and west across the island north of its center.
[5]
Climate
[
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]
Koppen climate types
of New York
Most of Upstate New York is classified as
humid continental
in the
Koppen climate classification
system, while Downstate has a warmer
humid subtropical climate
. Winter temperatures are below freezing on average in most of the state during January and February, but are above freezing along the Atlantic coast. Between June and September, summer-like conditions exist statewide, with longer summer conditions lasting from May to October in the south. Western New York experiences more cloud cover than the rest of the state due to the Great Lakes.
Precipitation
in the state is fairly even throughout the year.
Thunderstorm
systems and snow storms frequently cross the state from the southwest and from the Great Lakes as
lake-effect snow
. Major impacts from
hurricanes
or
tornadoes
are rare.
Rivers and lakes
[
edit
]
Mohawk
and
Hudson River
watersheds
The river system of the state has two general divisions. The first is the streams tributary to the
Great Lakes
[6]
and the
St. Lawrence River
. The second are those tributaries that flow in a general southerly direction. The watershed divide that separates these two systems extends in an irregular line eastward from
Lake Erie
, through the southern tier of counties to near the northeast corner of
Chemung County
. It then turns northeast to the
Adirondack Mountains
in
Essex County
, then southeast to the east extremity of
Lake George
, and then nearly due east to the east border of the state.
[5]
The northerly division has five general subdivisions. The most westerly of these comprises all the streams flowing into Lake Erie and the
Niagara River
and those flowing into Lake Ontario west of the
Genesee River
. In
Chautauqua County
, the streams are short and rapid, as the watershed approaches within a few miles of Lake Erie.
Cattaraugus
,
Buffalo
,
Tonawanda
, and
Oak Orchard
creeks are the most important streams in this division. Buffalo Creek is chiefly noted for forming
Buffalo
Harbor at its mouth; and the Tonawanda for 12 miles (19 km) from its mouth was once used for canal navigation. Oak Orchard and other creeks flowing into Lake Ontario descend from the interior in a series of rapids, affording a large amount of waterpower.
[5]
The
Finger Lakes Region
The second subdivision comprises the
Genesee River
and its tributaries. The Genesee rises in the northern part of Pennsylvania and flows in a generally northerly direction to Lake Ontario. Its upper course is through a narrow valley bordered by steep, rocky hills. Upon the line of
Wyoming
and
Livingston
counties, it breaks through a mountain barrier in a
deep gorge
and forms the Portage Falls. Below this point the course of the river is through a valley 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) wide and bordered by banks 50 to 150 feet (15 to 46 m) high. At
Rochester
it flows over the precipitous edges of the Niagara limestone, forming the Upper Genesee Falls; and 3 miles (4.8 km) below it flows over the edge of the Medina sandstone, forming the Lower Genesee Falls. The principal tributaries of this stream are
Canaseraga
,
Honeoye
, and
Conesus
creeks from the south, and
Oatka
and
Black
creeks from the west.
Honeoye
,
Canadice
,
Hemlock
, and
Conesus
lakes?four of the
Finger Lakes
?lie within the Genesee Basin.
[5]
The third subdivision includes the
Oswego River
and its tributaries, and the small streams flowing into Lake Ontario between the Genesee and Oswego rivers. The basin of the Oswego includes most of the inland lakes, which form a peculiar feature of the landscape in the interior of the state. The principal of these lakes are
Cayuga
,
Seneca
,
Canandaigua
,
Skaneateles
, Crooked, and
Owasco
lakes, all occupying long, narrow valleys, and extending from the level land in the center far into the highland region of the south (many of those lakes just mentioned are also part of the Finger Lakes). The valleys they occupy appear like immense ravines formed by some tremendous force that tore the solid rocks from their original beds, from the general level of the surrounding summits, down to the present bottoms of the lakes.
Oneida
and
Onondaga
lakes occupy level land in the northeast part of the Oswego Basin. Mud Creek, the most westerly branch of the Oswego River, takes its rise in
Ontario County
, flows northeast into
Wayne County
, where it unites with Canandaigua Outlet and takes the name of
Clyde River
; then it flows east to the west line of
Cayuga County
, where it empties into the
Seneca River
. This latter stream, made up of the outlets of Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, from this point flows in a northeasterly course, and receives successively the outlets of Owasco, Skaneateles, Onondaga, and Oneida lakes. From the mouth of the last-named stream it takes the name Oswego River, and its course is nearly due north to Lake Ontario.
[5]
The fourth subdivision includes the streams flowing into Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River east of the mouth of the Oswego. The principal of these are the
Salmon
,
Black
,
Oswegatchie
,
Grasse
, and
Raquette
rivers. The water is usually very dark, being colored with iron and the vegetation of swamps.
[5]
The fifth subdivision includes all the streams flowing into Lakes George and Champlain. They are mostly mountain torrents, frequently interrupted by cascades. The principal streams are the
Chazy
,
Saranac
, and
Ausable
rivers, and Wood Creek. Deep strata of
Tertiary
clay extend along the shores of Lake Champlain and Wood Creek. The water of most of the streams in this region is colored by the iron over which it flows.
Susquehanna River
watershed
The second general division of the river system of the state includes the basins of the
Allegheny
,
Susquehanna
,
Delaware
, and
Hudson
. The Allegheny Basin embraces the southerly half of
Chautauqua
and
Cattaraugus
counties and the southwest corner of
Allegany County
. The Allegheny River enters the state from the south in the southeast corner of Cattaraugus County, flows in nearly a semicircle, with its outward curve toward the north, and flows out of the state in the southwest part of the same county. It receives several tributaries from the north and east. These streams mostly flow in deep ravines bordered by steep, rocky hillsides. The watershed between this basin and Lake Erie approaches within a few miles of the lake, and is elevated 800 to 1,000 feet (240 to 300 m) above it.
[5]
Lake Champlain
at sunrise
The Susquehanna Basin occupies about one-third of the south border of the state. The river takes its rise in
Otsego Lake
, and, flowing southwest to the Pennsylvania line, receives Charlotte River from the south and the
Unadilla River
from the north. After a course of a few miles in Pennsylvania, it again enters New York and flows in a general westerly direction to near the western border of
Tioga County
, whence it turns south and again enters Pennsylvania. Its principal tributary from the north is the
Chenango River
. The
Tioga River
enters New York from Pennsylvania near the eastern border of
Steuben County
, flows north, receives the
Canisteo River
from the west and the
Cohocton River
from the north. From the mouth of the latter, the stream takes the name
Chemung River
, and flows in a southeast direction, into the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, a few miles south of the state line. The upper course of these streams is generally through deep ravines bordered by steep hillsides, but below they are bordered by wide intervales.
[5]
Delaware River
watershed
The Delaware Basin occupies
Delaware
and
Sullivan
counties and portions of several of the adjacent counties. The north or principal branch of the river rises in the northeast part of Delaware County and flows southwest to near the Pennsylvania line; then it turns southwest and forms the boundary of the state to the line of New Jersey. Its principal branches are the
Pepacton
and
Neversink
rivers. These streams all flow in deep, narrow ravines bordered by steep, rocky hills.
[5]
The Palisades
along the
Hudson River
The
basin of the Hudson
occupies about two-thirds of the east border of the state, and a large territory extending into the interior. The remote sources of the Hudson are among the highest peaks of the Adirondacks, more than 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above sea level. Several of the little lakes that form reservoirs of the Upper Hudson are 2,500 to 3,000 feet (760 to 910 m) above sea level. The stream rapidly descends through the narrow defiles into
Warren County
, where it receives from the east the outlet of
Schroon Lake
, and the
Sacandaga River
from the west. Below the mouth of the latter the river turns eastward, and breaks through the barrier of the Luzerne Mountains in a series of rapids and falls. At
Fort Edward
it again turns south and flows with a rapid current, frequently interrupted by falls, to
Troy
, 160 miles (260 km) from the ocean. At this place the river falls into an
estuary
, where its current is affected by the tide; and from this place to its mouth it is a broad, deep, sluggish stream. About 60 miles (97 km) from its mouth the Hudson breaks through the rocky barrier of the
highlands
, forming the most easterly of the Appalachian Mountain ranges; and along its lower course it is bordered on the west by a nearly perpendicular wall of basaltic rock 300 to 500 feet (91 to 152 m) high, known as
The Palisades
. Above Troy, the Hudson receives the
Hoosic River
from the east and the
Mohawk River
from the west. The former stream rises in western Massachusetts and Vermont, and the latter near the center of New York.
[5]
At Little Falls and The Noses, the Mohawk breaks through mountain barriers in a deep, rocky ravine; and at
Cohoes
, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from its mouth, it flows down a perpendicular precipice of 70 feet (21 m). Below Troy the tributaries of the Hudson are all comparatively small streams. South of the highlands the river spreads out into a wide expanse known as
Haverstraw Bay
. A few small streams upon the extreme eastern border of the state flow eastward into the
Housatonic River
, and several small branches of the
Passaic River
rise in the southern part of
Rockland County
.
[5]
Lake Erie
forms a portion of the western boundary of the state. It is 240 miles (390 km) long, with an average width of 38 miles (61 km), and it lies mostly west of the bounds of the state. It is 334 feet (102 m) above Lake Ontario, 565 feet (172 m) above sea level, and has an average depth of 120 feet (37 m). The greatest depth ever obtained by soundings is 270 feet (82 m). The harbors upon the lake are
Buffalo
,
Silver Creek
,
Dunkirk
, and
Barcelona
.
[5]
St. Lawrence River
watershed
Niagara Falls
is along the course of the
Niagara River
.
The
Niagara River
, forming the outlet of Lake Erie, is 34 miles (55 km) long, and, on average, more than a mile wide. About 20 miles (32 km) below Lake Erie the rapids commence; and 2 miles (3.2 km) further below are
Niagara Falls
. For 7 miles (11 km) below the falls the river has a rapid course between perpendicular, rocky banks, 200 to 300 feet (61 to 91 m) high, but below it emerges from the highlands and flows 7 miles (11 km) to Lake Ontario in a broad, deep, and majestic current.
[5]
Lake Ontario
forms a part of the northern boundary to the western half of the state. Its greatest length is 130 miles (210 km) and its greatest width is 55 miles (89 km). It is 232 feet (71 m) above sea level, and its greatest depth is 600 feet (180 m). Its principal harbors on the American shore are
Lewiston
,
Youngstown
,
Port Genesee
,
Sodus
and
Little Sodus
bays,
Oswego
,
Sackets Harbor
, and
Cape Vincent
. The
St. Lawrence River
forms the outlet of the lake and the northern boundary of the state to the east line of
St. Lawrence County
. It is a broad, deep river, flowing with a strong yet sluggish current until it passes the limits of this state. In the upper part of its course it encloses a great number of small islands, known as the
Thousand Islands
.
[5]
The surfaces of the
Great Lakes
are subject to variations of level, probably due to prevailing winds, unequal amounts of rain, and evaporation. The greatest difference known in Lake Erie is 7 feet (2.1 m), and in Lake Ontario 4 feet (1.2 m). The time of these variations is irregular, and the interval between the extremes often extends through several years. A sudden rise and fall of several feet has been noticed upon Lake Ontario at rare intervals, produced by some unknown cause.
[5]
State parks
[
edit
]
Two major parks in the state are the
Adirondack Park
and
Catskill Park
.
New York has many state parks and two major forest preserves. The
Adirondack Park
, roughly the size of the state of
Vermont
and the largest state park in the United States, was established in 1892 and given state constitutional protection in 1894.
[2]
The thinking that led to the creation of the park first appeared in
George Perkins Marsh
's
Man and Nature
, published in 1864. Marsh argued that
deforestation
could lead to
desertification
; referring to the clearing of once-lush lands surrounding the
Mediterranean
, he asserted "the operation of causes set in action by man has brought the face of the earth to a desolation almost as complete as that of the moon."
[7]
The
Catskill Park
was protected in legislation passed in 1885, which declared that its land was to be conserved and never put up for sale or lease. Consisting of 700,000 acres (2,800 km
2
) of land, the park is a habitat for
bobcats
,
minks
and
fishers
with some 400
black bears
living in the region. The state operates numerous campgrounds, and maintains over 300 miles (480 km) of multi-use trails.
[8]
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]