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 5467 feet (1666 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.

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 2000 to 2500 feet (610 to 760 m) above sea level.3

From the summits of the watershed the highlands usually descend toward Lake Ontario in a series of terraces the edges of which are the outcrops of the different rocks which underlie the surface. These terraces are usually smooth and although inclined toward the north the inclination is generally so slight that they appear to be 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.3 Rivers and lakes Mohawk and Hudson River watersheds

The river system of the state has two general divisions: the first comprising the streams tributary to the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River and the second being those which 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.3 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.3 The Finger Lakes Region Tho 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 lakesfour of the Finger Lakeslie within the Genesee Basin.3 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 which they occupy appear like immense ravines formed by some tremendous force which has torn 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.3 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.3 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 1000 feet (240 to 300 m) above it.3 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.3 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.3 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 4000 feet (1200 m) above sea level. Several of the little lakes which form reservoirs of the Upper Hudson are 2500 to 3000 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 150 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.3 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.3 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.3 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.3 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.3 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.3 State parks This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010) See also: List of New York state parks 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. 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." 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 700000 acres (2800 km2) of land the park is a habitat for bobcats minks and fishers. There are some 400 black bears living in the region. The state operates numerous campgrounds and there are over 300 miles (480 km) of multi-use trails in the park. See also Appalachia Glacial Lake Albany Notes "The Adirondack Park". NYS Adirondack Park Agency. 2003. http://www.apa.state.ny.us/aboutpark/index.html. Retrieved 2010-09-26.  "Land and Water Area of States (2000)". www.infoplease.com. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108355.html. Retrieved 2008-08-27.  a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r French John Homer. Historical and statistical gazetteer of New York State. Syracuse New York: R. Pearsall Smith; 1860. OCLC 224691273. p. 1923. v d e State of New York Albany (capital)  The Empire State Topics Administrative divisions  Bibliography  Congressional districts  Constitution  Demographics  Economy  Education  Elections  Geography  Government (Governor Legislature Court System)  History  Symbols  People  Politics  Transportation  Visitor Attractions Regions Adirondack Mountains  Allegheny Plateau  Capital District  Catskill Mountains  Central Region (formerly Central-Leatherstocking)  Central New York  Champlain Valley  City of New York  Finger Lakes  Holland Purchase  Hudson Highlands  Hudson Valley  Long Island  Mohawk Valley  New York Metro  Niagara Frontier  North Country  Ridge and Valley  Saint Lawrence Seaway  Shawangunks  Ski country  Southern Tier  Southtowns  Tech Valley  Thousand Islands  Upstate  Western Metro areas Albany / Schenectady / Troy  Binghamton  Buffalo / Niagara Falls  Elmira / Corning  Glens Falls  Ithaca  Jamestown  Newburgh / Middletown  New York City  Poughkeepsie  Rochester  Syracuse  Utica / Rome Counties Albany  Allegany  Bronx  Broome  Cattaraugus  Cayuga  Chautauqua  Chemung  Chenango  Clinton  Columbia  Cortland  Delaware  Dutchess  Erie  Essex  Franklin  Fulton  Genesee  Greene  Hamilton  Herkimer  Jefferson  Kings  Lewis  Livingston  Madison  Monroe  Montgomery  Nassau  New York  Niagara  Oneida  Onondaga  Ontario  Orange  Orleans  Oswego  Otsego  Putnam  Queens  Rensselaer  Richmond  Rockland  Saint Lawrence  Saratoga  Schenectady  Schoharie  Schuyler  Seneca  Steuben  Suffolk  Sullivan  Tioga  Tompkins  Ulster  Warren  Washington  Wayne  Westchester  Wyoming  Yates v d eGeography of the United States by political division States Alabama  Alaska  Arizona  Arkansas  California  Colorado  Connecticut  Delaware  Florida  Georgia  Hawaii  Idaho  Illinois  Indiana  Iowa  Kansas  Kentucky  Louisiana  Maine  Maryland  Massachusetts  Michigan  Minnesota  Mississippi  Missouri  Montana  Nebraska  Nevada  New Hampshire  New Jersey  New Mexico  New York  North Carolina  North Dakota  Ohio  Oklahoma  Oregon  Pennsylvania  Rhode Island  South Carolina  South Dakota  Tennessee  Texas  Utah  Vermont  Virginia  Washington  West Virginia  Wisconsin  Wyoming Federal district Washington D.C. (District of Columbia) Insular areas American Samoa  Guam  Northern Mariana Islands  Puerto Rico   U.S. Virgin Islands Outlying islands Bajo Nuevo Bank  Baker Island  Howland Island  Jarvis Island  Johnston Atoll  Kingman Reef  Midway Atoll  Navassa Island  Palmyra Atoll  Serranilla Bank  Wake Island