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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



LOCATION AXD TOPOGRAPHY OF THE PARADOX LAKE 

 QUADRANGLE 



The Paradox Lake quadrangle covers the southeastern part of the 

 Adirondacks. It is for the most part within the gneissic area but in 

 its northeastern portion includes some of the outlying peaks of the 

 central plutonic area. The highest peaks in the Adirondacks rise 

 to upwards of 5000 feet ; the highest on the Paradox quadrangle is 

 2941, the region being thus among the foothills. The southern and 

 eastern portions are in the gneissic area, where the mountains are 

 still lower. Pharaoh mountain is conspicuously the highest of the 

 gneissic peaks, and stands out as a landmark for miles. Its hight 

 is 2557 feet. 



Though the mountains are not very high, they are rugged and 

 often very steep. The greater part of the region is an untraveled 

 wilderness, and some parts of it are very difficult of access. The 

 abandonment of the iron mines, which were formerly of economic 

 importance, has led to the desertion of villages, and the region 

 abounds in houses which are falling in ruins. One can easily travel 

 for days through unbroken woods without meeting with a house or 

 even a trail. Lumbering and forest fires have done their work here 

 as elsewhere in the Adirondacks, with the result that the thick 

 second growth has made travel difficult and outlooks few. 



The drainage is in part westward, emptying into the Schroon and 

 hence ultimately into the Hudson, and in part eastward toward 

 Lake Champlain. The divide between these two drainage systems 

 lies along a general north and south line, the westward drainage 

 comprising about two thirds of the quadrangle. The most important 

 stream is the Schroon river, which crosses the northwestern corner 

 of the quadrangle. Its present course is for the most part over 

 drift, some interesting terraces being displayed on the sides of its 

 valley. Its most important tributary is the Paradox valley, which 

 crosses the quadrangle in a southwesterly direction, joining the 

 Schroon near the central portion of the western edge of the 

 quadrangle. 



