Download Landscapes of New York State

Atlantic Coastal Plain:
Fire Island is a barrier island on
the South Side of Long Island.
Glacial Outwash and Deposition
from Ocean Processes.
Atlantic Coastal Plain:
Glacial outwash and deposition from
Ocean Processes, unsorted deposits as
seen at Montauk State Park.
Adirondack Mountains:
Indian Lake looking at the high peaks.
Once ancient mountains are now
increasing in height by uplift. The rocks
were metamorphosed about one billion
years ago and are some of the oldest
rocks on the planet.
Hudson Highlands:
Intensely metamorphic bedrock
formed one billion years ago.
The Hudson is seen at center.
Hudson-Mohawk Lowlands:
The Hudson River, seen here
is in the Hudson-Mohawk region.
About a foot deep, the river will
run south to New York Harbor.
Hudson Highlands:
Intensely metamorphic bedrock
formed one billion years ago. This
view is the Great Swamp, a large
watershed in eastern New York.
Allegheny Plateau:
The area of the southern tier is
formed chiefly by glaciers. In the
background is one of the Finger
Lakes. The geology is of
sedimentary rock.
Watkins Glen is a deep,
winding canyon near the
town of Watkins Glen in the
Finger Lakes region of New
York. Glen Creek passes
through layers of
sandstone, shale, and
limestone, and creates
numerous waterfalls.
The Catskills:
Part of the southern plateau, the
Catskills are one of New York’s
most famous resort areas. The
Catskills are the remains of a delta.
Kaaterskill Falls at right is the highest
waterfalls in New York State. The weaker
shale has eroded away while the stronger,
more resistant sandstone hangs above.
See the hiker below for scale.
St. Lawrence Lowlands:
The Thousand Islands is an area in the
St. Lawrence Lowlands. The islands are
very small as evidenced by this picture.
Erie-Ontario Lowlands:
Limestones, shales, sandstones and
conglomerates dominate this low lying
area. It is about 100 meters lower
than the Allegheny Plateau.
Letchworth State Park:
This park is at the landscape boundary
between Allegheny Plateau and the
Erie-Ontario Lowlands. Notice the
horizontal strata at the right.
Newark Lowlands:
This is a view of the
Palisades Intrusion 206 mya
at the end of the Triassic
Period.
Hudson:
The Hudson, seen at its widest point
looking south. New York City, its
end, is seen. The Hudson meets the
Atlantic at New York Harbor.
Manhattan Prong:
Intensely metamorphic bedrock. The
exposed bedrock is a result of glaciation.
The small rocky hills seen here are
typical of this landscape.
Hooper’s Mine is rich in
garnet, a mineral produced
from metamorphism.
Bear Mountain:
Granulite, a metamorphic rock of
granite. The exposed material is a
result of glaciation. Notice the darker
area, as a result of weathering.
Tug Hill Plateau:
Region of mostly sedimentary rock;
limestone, shale, sandstone and
dolostone. These rocks were formed
during the Ordovician Period.