GEOLOGY OF THE WEST POINT QUADRANGLE, NEW YORK J 



INTRODUCTORY DESCRIPTION 

 Location 



The West Point quadrangle lies between 73° 45' and 74° 00' 

 W. longitude and between 41° 15' and 41° 30' N. latitude. It is 

 on the Hudson river in southeastern New York and includes a sec- 

 tion of the " Highlands," a mountainous belt of country extending 

 in a southwesterly direction from western New England across 

 southeastern New York, northern New Jersey and into Pennsyl- 

 vania. The Highlands belt is only about 15 miles broad where the 

 Hudson river crosses it so that the West Point quadrangle includes 

 the whole belt and also small triangular patches belonging to the 

 lower country both on the north and the south sides. The total 

 area is about 215 square miles and comprises parts of Westchester, 

 Putnam, Dutchess, Orange and Rockland counties. 



Geography 



The Hudson river, deep enough for sea-going vessels, flows in a 

 restricted gorgelike trench following an irregular course through the 

 area from north to south near the western boundary of this quad- 

 rangle. There are no other navigable streams ; only small mountain 

 brooks or creeks enter the Hudson in this portion of its course. 



The chief town is Peekskill (10,358 inhabitants) which lies on 

 the east bank of the Hudson in the southern part of the quadrangle 

 on the New York Central Railroad, about 40 miles from New York 

 City. The best-known place is West Point, on the west bank of the 

 Hudson, where the United States Military Academy is located. 

 Other towns are Matteawan, Mahopac, Cold Spring, Garrison, Fort 

 Montgomery and Highland Falls. 



Three railroads run through the quadrangle ; the main line of the 

 New York Central, following close along the east bank of the Hud- 

 son ; the West Shore, in similar manner along the west bank ; and 

 the Putnam division of the New York Central Railroad along the 

 east side of the quadrangle up to Mahopac Mines. 



The Interstate Park, which covers large areas just to the west, 

 may be reached from Bear Mountain which is on the West Shore 

 Railroad, or by river steamer. 



Steamboat service is maintained by several lines between New 

 York and Albany during the summer. Day boats and excursions 

 stop at Bear Mountain and West Point. There is good ferry service 

 from Garrison to West Point as long as the river is open, and inter- 



