The Catskill Mountains are one of the dominant geographic features in southeastern New York.
The Catskill Mountains, located in southeastern New York, are considered part of the Appalachian Mountains, a range stretching from Alabama into Canada. Geologists note that the Catskills are not technically mountains, but are classified as part of a dissected plateau, which also includes the Pocono and Allegheny mountains in Pennsylvania. Yet the Catskills feature 98 peaks more than 3,000 feet high, topped by Slide Mountain, at 4,180 feet.
Definition
The exact area covered by Catskills is a matter of debate. The eastern edge of the range, known as the Catskill Escarpment, rises abruptly along the Hudson River Valley, but the Catskills' other boundaries are not easily defined. The State University website suggests that "by the time one reaches either I-88, the Delaware River, or the Shawangunk Ridge ... one is no longer in the Catskills."
Early History
During the Devonian and Mississippian geological periods, some 325 million to 375 million years ago, the area now known as the Catskills was underwater, part of a vast inland sea. During this period, the Catskills region collected runoff from the massive Acadian Mountains to the east, which resulted in accumulation of sediment that through millions of years hardened into solid rock. According to the United States Geological Survey, this pushed the height of the Catskills to as much as 7,000 feet in some places.
Collision
The Catskills' development continued with several shifts in landmasses that culminated in a collision between the continents now known as North America and Africa. As the continents collided, the Catskills and other Appalachian ranges were thrust further upward, with many peaks reaching tremendous heights. According to the USGS, the Appalachians were originally similar in height to the Rocky Mountains of today. Through time, the mountains eroded to their present height.
Evolution
Glaciers drove the third phase in the Catskills' development. Dr. Robert Titus, a professor of geology at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., notes in his book, "The Catskills in the Ice Age," that "[T]he Catskill Mountains as we know them today are the legacy of these massive forces. Virtually all Catskill Mountain villages are built where they are because glaciers made some of the land habitable ... much of our recreational hiking and climbing leads to scenery carved by the passing ice."
Today
The Catskills continue to evolve to this day--although much more slowly--through erosion. Heavy timbering in the 19th century threatened the area, but conservationists succeeded in forming the 300,000-acre Catskill Forest Reserve, which restricts development. The Catskills remain a popular resort destination for residents of New York City and surrounding areas.
Tags: Catskill Mountains, Catskills development, Catskills other, southeastern York
