BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 

 Vol. 22, pp. 177-186 May 22, 1911 



PRE-GLACIAL COURSE OF THE UPPER HUDSON RIVER ^ 



BY WILLIAM J. MILLER 



(Presented hefore the Society December 28, 1910) 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction , , , 177 



The Hudson River 179 



Post-GIacial course 179 



Pre-Glacial course 180 



Drainage of Lake George depression and eastward ^ 182 



Influence of ice erosion ^ 182 



Cause of passage of the Hudson over the Stony Creek divide... 183 



The Sacandaga River , , 184 



The Luzerne River , 184 



Glacial Lake Warrensburg ^ 185 



Introduction 



It is the purpose of this paper to show that the major drainage features 

 of the southeastern border of the Adirondacks have been well nigh revolu- 

 tionized as a result of the presence and retreat of the Pleistocene ice- 

 sheet. The region under discussion lies in Warren, Saratoga, and Fulton 

 counties and is represented by the accompanying sketch map. For a 

 proper understanding of the points involved the reader should consult the 

 State geologic map and the following topographic sheets of the United 

 States Geological Survey: North Creek, Bolton, Stony Creek, Luzerne, 

 Glens Falls, Broadalbin, Saratoga, and Schuylerville. 



The remarkable courses of the Hudson and Schroon rivers, as well as 

 certain tributaries, have long been recognized. As stated by Kemp and 

 Newland:^ "There is a peculiar tendency of the streams to leave the 

 normal southerly courses and double back on themselves to the northeast 

 again. . . . The Sacandaga makes a very acute angle with its old 



1 Published by permission of Dr. J. M. Clarke, State Geologist of New York. 

 Manuscript received by the Secretary of the Society January 7, 1911. 



2 Seventeenth Annual Report of the New York State Geologist, p. 510. 



(177) 



