252 



NEW JERSEY. 



CHAPTER Xm. NEW JERSEY, 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. New Jersey is bounded N. by New York ; E. by New York 

 and the ocean ; S. by Delaware Bay, and W. by the river Delaware, separating it from Penn- 

 sylvania. It lies between 39"^ and 41° 24' N. latitude ; and 74° and 75° 29' W. longitude. 

 Its extreme length from north to south is 1G3 miles, and its average breadth about 50. It 

 contains 7,300 square miles. 



2. Mountains. No part of this State is mountainous except the north, where two of the 

 southern branches of the Appalachian chain cross the State. These are called the Kittatinny 

 Ridge and Soutli Mountain. One of these eminences, toward the western part of the Slate, 

 called Sichooicifs Mountain, is much frequented by travelers in summer. It aflbrds agreeable 

 scenery, and has a hotel near its summit. There are some mineral springs in the neighborhood. 

 Towards the middle part of the State the surface is broken, but there are no very high emi- 

 nences. A hilly ridge rises gradually from Bergen Point on the Hudson, and runs north, with 

 little interruption, to the Highlands in New York. It has a width generally of 2^ miles, with 



a summit of table-land. From its west- 



ern brow there is a gradual descent to 

 the alluvial valley of the Hackinsack and 

 Passaic. On the eastern side it is uni- 

 formly either steep or precipitous. At 

 Weehawken, 4 miles north of the city 

 of Jersey, the mountain presents a per- 

 pendicular wall of about 200 feet eleva- 

 tion above the Hudson, and exhibits a 

 fine prospect of the harbor of New York 

 and the surrounding country. This mural 

 precipice extends 20 miles along the 

 shore of the river, and bears the name of 

 the Palisadoes. Its summit has a surface 

 of slightly undulating table-land, gradu- 

 ally rising toward the north, and mostly 

 occupied by forests. The western side 



Palisado lianrre. 



is of gradual descent, and covered with farms. Among the forests wild animals, such as the 

 raccoon, fox, wildcat, opossum, rabbit, and squirrel, roam almost undisturbed, and rattlesnakes 

 are sometimes seen. The highest point of the Palisado range does not exceed 550 feet 

 elevation. 



3. Rivers. The Hudson and Delaware wash the eastern and western limits of the State, 

 Dut these will be found described elsewhere. The Raritan rises in the western part of New 

 Jersey, and flows easterly into the sea below Staten Island. New Brunswick stands upon this 

 river, and Amboy is near its mouth. Vessels of SO tons ascend to the former place, 17 miles, and 

 the river is navigated by the steamboats which form part of the line of communication between 

 New York and Philadelphia. The Passaic rises in the north and flows south into Newark Bay, 

 which opens into New York harbor. It is navigable 10 miles for small vessels. The Hack- 

 insack falls also into Newark Bay, and has a navigation of 15 miles. Great Egg Harbor 

 River in the south, runs into the ocean, and is navigable by small craft 20 miles. 



4. Bays and Harbors. Although this State has a long line of seacoast, yet it is quite 

 deficient in good harbors. JS'^ewark Bay is rather a small lake communicating by long outlets 

 with the sea. The Raritan Bay., between Staten Island and Sandy Hook, affords good 

 shelter for vessels. The seacoast and the borders of Delaware Bay present many inlets and 

 coves, but none frequented b}^ large shipping. The bay or estuary of the Delaware lies 

 between this State and Delaware ; it is 65 miles long and 30 broad in the widest part. "Where 

 it joins the sea it is contracted, and from Cape iNIay to Cape Henlopen the distance is 18 miles. 

 This bay has some shoal places, but the channels are deep and favorable to navigation. 



5. Climate. The greater part of New Jersey lying near the sea, and being low and leve., 

 must enjoy a comparatively mild climate. The cold is less felt here than in any part of New 

 York or Pennsylvania. Xearly the whole State lies open to the influence of the sea air. 



