Adirondack Mountains

The Adirondack Mountains make up a roughly circular mountain range in upstate New York. In the past, the mountains were important to the fur-trapping, mining, and logging industries, and they later began to attract tourists. The mountains are situated within Adirondack Park, which the state of New York created in 1892 to preserve the region. The Adirondack Mountains are home to thousands of lakes; thousands of miles of rivers and streams; more than forty peaks with elevations of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) or higher; and numerous species of animals, birds, fish, and plants. The Adirondack region is a popular tourist destination with millions of visitors each year. It is especially well-liked among outdoor enthusiasts, including mountain climbers, hikers, hunters, and campers.

Background

The Adirondack Mountains, or Adirondacks, make up a somewhat circular mountain range in northern New York. The name Adirondack comes from an Iroquois word meaning "bark eater," which is a derogatory term the Iroquois once used to describe their Algonquin neighbors. Both the Iroquois and the Algonquin hunted and fished in the Adirondacks prior to the arrival of the first European settlers. Historical records suggest that the first person of non–Native American descent to set foot on the Adirondacks was French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1609.

In the mid-seventeenth century, the Adirondacks became popular among fur trappers and traders. Mining and logging increased during the eighteenth century. As forests were cleared, people began to build settlements in the region. In the mid to late eighteenth century, Fort Ticonderoga, a military post, served an important role during both the French and Indian War (1754–1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).

During the nineteenth century, the Adirondacks became a vacation destination for wealthy New Yorkers who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. However, increasing tourism combined with the mining and logging industries began to have a negative effect on the environment. In 1885, attorney Verplanck Colvin convinced the state of New York to create a forest preserve to protect the Adirondack wilderness. Seven years later, New York established Adirondack Park, which includes 6.1 million acres, or about one-fifth of all the land in the state.

Today Adirondack Park includes both private land and public forest. It is a mixture of wilderness areas and small towns and villages. Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States and the largest National Historic Landmark.

Overview

The Adirondack Mountains form a circular dome that is approximately 160 miles (257 kilometers) wide and 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) high. The Adirondack region includes more than one hundred peaks, which range in height from about 1,200 feet (366 meters) to more than 5,000 feet (1,524 meters). Forty-six summits, known as the "High Peaks," are about 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) or higher. Of those, two surpass the 5,000-foot (1,524-meter) mark. The highest, at 5,344 feet (1,629 meters), is Mount Marcy. In addition to being the highest peak in the Adirondacks, Mount Marcy is also the highest peak in the entire state of New York.

The Adirondacks are sometimes called "new mountains from old rocks." The rocks from which the mountains formed are more than a billion years old. Over hundreds of millions of years, erosion and glaciation carved away at the rocks. By about five million years ago, the mountains had formed. The current dome shape resulted from the last ice age, which ended about 11,700 years ago. During that time, glaciers covered the Adirondack region. As the glaciers moved, they picked up rocks and soil, which scraped over and rounded off the mountaintops. Later, as the environment warmed and glaciers retreated, enormous chunks of ice broke off and left depressions in the ground. As this ice melted, the depressions filled with water and formed many of the lakes and ponds that are characteristic of the Adirondack region.

The Adirondacks are home to more than three thousand lakes and ponds. In addition, more than 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) of rivers and more than 30,000 miles (48,280 kilometers) of brooks and streams cut through the landscape. Rivers and streams generally flow outward from the central highlands. From the mountains, the water flows toward Lake Champlain in the east, the St. Lawrence River in the northwest, Lake Ontario in the west, and the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers in the south. Lake Tear of the Clouds, which is located at an elevation of 4,292 feet (1,308 meters) on Mount Marcy, feeds the Hudson River.

The Adirondack region's many bodies of water are home to about sixty species of fish including trout, bass, walleye, and perch. About two hundred bird species and fifty animal species also depend on these lakes, rivers, and streams for water. Among the birds in the Adirondacks are kingfishers, ducks, swallows, woodpeckers, hawks, and chickadees. Animals commonly found in the region are beavers, white-tailed deer, black bears, and coyotes. Adirondack vegetation includes everything from wildflowers, herbs, and grasses to shrubs and hardwood forests. In the past, the region's spruce, pine, and hemlock trees provided an abundant supply of timber for loggers. Miners dug minerals such as iron ore, graphite, and titanium from the ground.

Today Adirondack Park is home to a year-round population of about 130,000 people. However, the Adirondack Mountains are a popular vacation destination, and the region hosts more than ten million visitors annually. Many people enjoy hunting, fishing, bird-watching, or horseback riding. Adventurers may try mountain climbing, spelunking (exploring caves), four-wheeling, or white-water rafting. In winter, folks enjoy activities such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The Adirondacks boast more than 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers) of foot trails, which are popular with campers and hikers. Those up for the challenge may attempt to climb all forty-six High Peaks to become members of a group called the "46ers." As of December 2024, the total number of climbers to accomplish this goal was over 15,000.

The Adirondack Mountains have plenty of activities for people who are not interested in outdoor living, too. History buffs may be drawn to sites such as Fort Ticonderoga or the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, which is the former home of abolitionist John Brown. Athletes and sports enthusiasts might enjoy a visit to Lake Placid, which hosted the Winter Olympics twice—once in 1932 and again in 1980. Nearby, visitors will find the Olympic Sports Complex, the Olympic Jumping Complex, and the Olympic Museum. Photographers may delight in the vibrant foliage that emerges when the leaves change color in the fall.

Bibliography

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