10 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



together, and, on a small scale, Catamount mountain, show a north- 

 east-southwest trend which is common in the eastern half of the 

 Adirondack region. The other mountains of the quadrangle are, 

 however, very irregularly distributed. 



There are three large, broad valleys. One of these with the vil- 

 lages of Wilmington, Haselton, and East Kilns in the northeastern 

 part of the quadrangle, is approximately lO miles long and from 2 

 to 4 miles wide, with altitudes from 660 to 1400 feet. This valley 

 was once occupied by an extensive glacial lake (see chapter on the 

 Pleistocene geology). A prominent valley, 7 miles long and 3 to 5 

 miles wide, lies in the northeastern part of the map area. Its alti- 

 tudes vary from 1 400 to 1700 feet, and most of it is the site of a 

 former glacial lake. The third large valley lies in the southeast. 

 Tt is 7 miles long and from i^ to 3^ miles wide. Altitudes range 

 from 1640 to 1900 feet. A former glacial lake also covered this 

 area. Lake Placid now occupies the northern end of this valley. 



Three large streams flow across the quadrangle, namely, Saranac 

 river for about 8 miles across the northwestern corner. East Branch 

 Ausable river for 9 miles across the southeastern portion, and 

 West Branch Ausable river for about 20 miles from southwest to 

 northeast almost across the middle of the map area. All the drain- 

 age of the quadrangle passes into these three rivers and north- 

 eastward into Lake Champlain. The West Branch Ausable river 

 drains Lake Placid and, after pursuing a winding course for some 

 miles through a broad valley in the vicinity of Newman, pa.^ses 

 through a deep, narrow pass known as Wilmington notch, the rocky 

 sides of which rise precipitously to a maximum height of 700 feet 

 above the river on the east side, and 1700 feet on the west side (see 

 plates 4 and 20). The explanation of this remarkable course may 

 be found on a subsequent page. A mile beyond the Wilmington 

 notch, the river descends more than 100 feet by waterfall (High 

 fall, see plate 5) and cascades in a small gorge (see plates 13 and 

 14) cut in granite. Two miles beyond the High fall gorge the 

 river flows through a narrow gorge known as The Flume (see 

 plate 8), and then enters the broad valley in which are located the 

 villages of Wilmington and Haselton. 



There are twenty-four lakes and ponds within the quadrangle in 

 addition to portions of two large reseiwoirs along the Saranac 

 river. ^ Lake Placid, over 4 miles long and from i to i^ miles 





' These reservoirs are not shown on the accompanying geologic map, 

 but they occupy the swamp areas above and below Franklin Falls. 



