26 " Geology^ Mineralogy^ Scenery, ^c. of the 



Art- V. — Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, 4t- of the High- 

 lands of JVew- York and JVeW' Jersey. Read iefore the 

 Catskill Lyceum of JVatural History, hy James Pierce. 



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[Commuuicated for insertion in tliis Journal,] 



General description and. Geological character^ 



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The elevated mountain range called the Highlands, Is a 

 continuation of a primitive chain, that commences in Cana-- 

 da, passes through Vermont, and forms the western boun- 

 dary of Massachusetts and Connecticut, 



The Highlands present parallel ridges, which pass from 

 north-east to south-east, through the states of New-York 

 and New-Jersey, crowned by many sugar loaf eminences^ 

 that form a waving profile characteristic of primitive regions. 



The average width of the Highlands in the State of New- 

 York is twelve, and in New-Jersey, twenty miles. The 

 general elevation is greater to the west, than to the east of 

 the Hudson. The Fishkill is the most prominent and ex- 

 tensive of the Highland ranges to the east of the Hudson, 

 Most of the mountains on that side of the river, viewed from 

 Mount Dunderberg, in Rockland County, appeared consid- 

 erably below me, and the summits like the broken waves of 

 of a tempestuous ocean. The prospect from Mount Dun- 

 derberg is extensive and interesting. The Hudson is in 

 view to the south for thirty miles. I overlooked the well- 

 tilled region of Westchester county, and traced the tower- 

 ing greenstone range which forms the western border of 

 the river. The secondary country between this narrow 

 ridge, Haverstraw bay, and the Highlands, resembled an 

 extensive plain in a high state of cultivation. The position 

 of towns, and lakes, and the course of streams, were dis- 

 tinctly marked on this n^ap of nature. To the north, the 

 Hudson contracted, appeared far below, like a canal in a 

 deep ravine. Its course for several miles could be traced, 

 Elev^ated mountains limit the prospect to the north-west. 

 To the south-w^est the waving Highlands were seen exten- 

 ding as far as vision could reach. The greenstone ranges 

 of the interior of New-Jersey, and the mountains of Stat- 

 en Island, w^ere scarcely distinguishable from clouds. 



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