10S Topographical Sketch of the State of New- York. 



along the horizon in a northwesterly direction towards the Mo* 

 hawk river. This plane has a mean elevation of 320 feet, and 

 suddenly declines into the valley of the Hudson by a precipitous 

 step nearly parallel to the river. The capitol at Albany is built 

 on the very edge of this step ; and the Mohawk, in passing over 

 the same depression, forms the Cohoes or great fall of the river. 

 A similar shelf exists on each side of the Hudson, from Albany 

 down to the Highlands. The country rises abruptly from the 

 river to upwards of two hundred feet, and then sweeps back- 

 wards with a very gentle rise to the mountain chain. On this 

 Shelf are situated all the cities and villages along the river, with 

 the exception of Troy, which is the only place on the Hudson 

 erected on the alluvial flat. 



The lower or southern sub-basin of the Hudson, is a section of 

 country highly interesting to the political geographer. It includes 

 all that part of the state south of the Highlands, (except Long. 

 Island,) as well as a part of New-Jersey. Its greatest width is 

 from the southern sources of the Raritan river, to the eastern head 

 of Croton river, in Putnam county, a distance of aboiK 10G mile*. 



No. XIII. 



Table of Ascents and Distances through the Hudson and Cham- 

 plain valley, from the Ocean, at New- York, to the St. Lawrence 

 River. 















H.,r\ v' , ,!?,t r,>rf l:,!u;ir 



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I 17 



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;:: 







The Hudson river, which occupies so important a part of the 

 Hudson and Champlain valley, is in itself one of the most interest- 

 ing water courses on the surface of the globe ; and as a navigable 

 inlet to the vast and fertile regions of the west, demands a more 

 particular notice than the limit of this article can afford to any oth- 

 er river in the state. It is formed of two principal branches : the 

 Hudson proper, and the Mohawk. Each of these deserves par- 



