Niagara Falls is one of New York's geological attractions.
New York State is a diverse geological wonderland, from the thundering water of Niagara Falls to the Palisades, the dramatic cliffs that overlook sections of the Hudson River. Ten distinct geological regions are found in the state: the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Manhattan Prong, the Hudson Highlands, the Hudson-Mohawk Lowlands, the Newark Lowlands, the Adirondack Region, the Tugg Hill Plateau, the St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Erie-Ontario Lowlands and the Allegheny Plateau. Regardless of your location in the state, you will not be far from one of its geologic marvels.
Stark's Knob Historic Park
Stark's Knob Historic Park in Saratoga Springs was formed between 440 million and 460 million years ago in the Ordovician Age. During this time, basalt lava flowed from cracks in the earth's crust and into the shallow sea. Park guests can view basalt pillows, which are solidified lava formations ranging in size from 10 centimeters to several meters.
Trenton Falls Scenic Trails
The town of Trenton is home to Trenton Falls Scenic Trails. The trails lead to geological formations such as a large gorge and waterfall. Rocks in the area are estimated to be 450 million years old. Limestone deposits in the area often contain fossils; fossilized snails, shelled mollusks, starfish and jellyfish have all been found in the area.
Lester Park
Lester Park, near Saratoga Springs, features the geological features called stromatolites, which means "layered rocks." Visitors to the park can walk across a 490-million-year-old sea floor that contains fossils of blue-green algae. When this area was a sea, the land that is present-day New York was located south of the equator.
Central Park
Central Park, in the middle of New York City, offers several geological attractions. Glacial-scoured rock outcrops made of schist and gneiss are found on the park's west side. As you walk through the park, look for large areas of smooth rock, which were polished by glaciers that passed over the area. Umpire Rock, in the southern part of the park, is an outcrop consisting of glacial troughs and grooves.
Lake Erie Cliffs
The Lake Erie Cliffs stretch along New York's Lake Erie shoreline, from the mouth of 18-Mile Creek to the town of Evans. Composed of exposed Wanakah shale as well as limestone, the rocks originated in the Givetian and Devonian periods. Trilobite fossils are commonly found, and collection by visitors is permitted.
Tags: Lake Erie, Central Park, Erie Cliffs, Falls Scenic, Falls Scenic Trails, Historic Park
