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{{short description|Mountain in New York, United States}}
{{Geobox|Range

| name =Helderberg Escarpment
{{Infobox mountain
| image =
| name = Helderberg Escarpment
| image_size =
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| country =United States
| elevation = {{convert|1197|ft}}
| state =]
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| location = SSE of ], ], U.S.
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| coordinates = {{coord|42.5780153|-74.0019710|type:mountain_region:US-NY_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}, {{coord|42.5566851|-73.9830251|format=dms}},{{coord|42.6377105|-73.9916288|format=dms}},{{coord|42.4986037|-73.9696691|format=dms}},{{coord|42.6377943|-74.0114526|format=dms}}
| district =]
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| coordinates_ref =<ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis
| city =]
| id = 970200
| city1 =]
| name = Helderberg Mountains
| city2 =]
| access-date = 2018-04-05 }}</ref>
| city3 =]
| topo = ] ''Westerlo'', ''Clarksville'', ''Voorheesville'', ''Alcove'', ''Altamont''
| border =Allegheny Plateau
| map = New York Adirondack Park#USA
| border1 =]
| map_caption = Location of the Helderberg Escarpment within New York
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The '''Helderberg Escarpment''' is a ] ] in the highlands of western ], ]. They are in the ] of ], ], ], and ]; and are roughly {{convert|11|mi|km}} west of the ] of ].<ref name=Complex#35>{{cite web | title = Significant habitats and habitat complexes of the New York bight watershed | author = Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program | publisher = US Fish and Wildlife Service | url = http://library.fws.gov/pubs5/web_link/text/heldberg.htm | accessdate = 2009-10-14}}</ref> The escarpment is an abrupt ] cliff, running north-south dividing Albany County into the ] to the east, and the ] of the Helderberg Plateau to the west.<ref name=Complex#35/> They are the northeasternmost extent of the ],<ref name=Complex#35/> and rise from {{convert|500|ft|m}} above ] at the ] base to {{convert|1300|ft|m}} at the cliff edge.<ref>{{cite web | title = Helderberg Escarpment Planning Guide: Executive Summary | url = http://www.mohawkhudson.org/Library/iii-Exec%20Summary.pdf | publisher = Helderberg Escarpment Planning Commission | accessdate = 2009-10-15}}</ref> The '''Helderberg Escarpment''', also known as the '''Helderberg Mountains''', is an ] in eastern ], United States, roughly {{convert|11|mi|km}} west of the city of ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://library.fws.gov/pubs5/web_link/text/heldberg.htm |title=Significant Habitats and Habit Complexes of the New York Bight Watershed: Helderberg Escarpment |access-date=2010-12-01 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://library.fws.gov/pubs5/web_link/tables/hbe_tab.htm |title=Helderberg Escarpment List of Species of Special Emphasis |access-date=2010-12-01 |publisher=]}}</ref> The escarpment is the northeastern extremity of the Allegheny Plateau. It rises steeply from the ] below, with an elevation difference of approximately 700 feet (from 400 to 1,100 feet) over a horizontal distance of approximately 2,000 feet. Much of the escarpment is within ], and has views of the Hudson Valley and the ].


==Geology==
Helderberg is a corruption of the ] word Helleberg or Hellebergh, meaning “bright mountain” or “clear mountain.” The name referred to not only the escarpment itself but at one time to the area above the escarpment which is now part of the town of Knox; later it became the popular name for the community below the mountain that became ].
]


The escarpment is part of the ] and is geologically related to the ],
The exposed cliffs are rich in fossils, recording around 500 million years of geological history.<ref name=OSI>{{cite web | title = Helderberg Escarpment | author = Open Space Institute | accessdate = 2009-10-14 | url = http://www.osiny.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Capital_Helderberg_Escarpment}}</ref>
and the ].<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.klint.envir.ee/klint/eng/5.html
|title = North Estonian Klint and some of its analogues
|date = 2008
|archive-date = 2014-06-22
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140622050130/http://www.klint.envir.ee/klint/eng/5.html
|url-status = dead
|quote = Helderberg Escarpment in Albany County, New York State, is up to 300 m high and traceable over more than 100 km. The escarpment exposes rock complexes from a nearly 70-million-year time period (Middle Ordovician to Early Devonian), representing a moderate-grade slope in which harder Coeymans (Devonian) and Onondaga (Silurian) limestones are distinguishable as escarpments a few dozen metres in height.
|access-date = 2013-08-01
}}</ref>
The rocks exposed in the escarpment date back to the ] to ].


In 1934 the '']'' described how the ], one of the ] to be found in the escarpment, routinely had ] of ice in the springtime.<ref>
==Protected areas==
{{cite news
]]]
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=enkuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2640,3616816&dq=helderberg+escarpment&hl=en
A centerpiece of the Helderberg Escarpment is ], named for the former mayor of Albany, ], whose family donated over 1,000 acres of land to the state of New York in the 1930s.<ref name=OSI/> ], is another ] and both are owned and managed by the ]. Other areas of the Escarpment are protected by various other governmental and non-governmental institutions. The Knox Wildlife Management Area is managed by the ]; while the ] manages three preserves within the area, the Limestone Rise Preserve, the Hannacroix Ravine Preserve, and the Waitecliff Preserve. The New York State Natural Heritage Program, in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, recognizes the Hailes Cave site within the Helderberg Escarpment habitat complex as a "Priority Site for Biodiversity" with a rank of B3 (high biodiversity significance).<ref name=Complex#35/> Hailes Cave has a large ] with over 27,000 bats in 1994.<ref name=Complex#35/>
| title = Icy Stalagmites in Tory Cave
| publisher = ]
| date = 1934-03-30
| access-date = 2013-08-01
| via = Google News Archive
}}
</ref>


==Transmission towers==
==Ecosystem==
Most of the Capital District's television and FM radio stations installed their ] ] at the escarpment to take advantage of its high ground.<ref>FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers in New Scotland, NY, http://www.city-data.com/towers/lmobile-New-Scotland-New-York.html</ref> In 2003 a {{convert|499|ft|m|adj=on}} tower was built on the highest point of the escarpment, for transmitting digital television and FM radio signals.<ref>
Some notable species of plants and animals native to the Helderbergs are the ], ], and ]; the ], the ], the ], Small-footed ], ], smooth-cliff ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web | author = Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program | publisher = US Fish and Wildlife Service | title = Helderberg Escarpment List of Species of Special Emphasis | accessdate = 2009-10-14 | url=http://library.fws.gov/pubs5/web_link/tables/hbe_tab.htm}}</ref>
{{cite news
| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SDGB&p_theme=sdgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=110F9BDFB4CF9302&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
| title = Area stations share a Helderberg tower
| publisher = Daily Gazette (Schenectady)
| author = Philip Schwartz
| date = 2005-02-20
| access-date = 2013-08-01
| quote = In late 2003, a single, 499-foot transmission tower went up on the Helderberg escarpment in the Town of New Scotland, just outside Albany at the highest point in the immediate area.
}}
</ref>

==History==
Dutch settlers first homesteaded the plateau above the escarpment in the 17th century.<ref>
{{cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2ODnxxkvjQUC&q=Helderberg&pg=PA7
| title = Helderberg Hilltowns
| publisher = ]
| author = John K. Elberfeld, Jane B. McLean
| date = 2012
| isbn = 9780738592688
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JSSYGlJ37-kC&q=Helderberg+Escarpment&pg=PA17
| title = The Finger Lakes Region: Its Origin and Nature
| publisher = ]
| author = O. D. von Engeln
| date = 1988
| isbn = 9780801495014
| access-date = 2013-08-01
}}
</ref> Helleberg is a Dutch name meaning "clear mountain".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=}}</ref>

The ] and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy are working to keep escarpment lands from being developed for housing or industrial uses.<ref>
{{cite news
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VNBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=4898,3746470&dq=helderberg+escarpment&hl=en
| title = New Scotland Orchard protected from development
| publisher = Daily Gazette (Schenectady)
| author = Jill Bryce
| date = 2003-05-16
| pages = 1, 4
| access-date = 2013-08-01
| via = Google News Archive
}}
</ref>
Farmers farming land near the escarpment can apply to sell their development rights, to help make sure that land is not developed. In 2003 the Ten Eyck family, owners of the Indian Ladder Farm just below the escarpment, sold the development rights to their farm for $848,000. Two real estate assessment were done, one on the value of the property as a working farm, the other on its value as a potential site for urban development. The Ten Eycks were paid the difference in return for agreeing to keep the property as a working farm. They were the first property owners to sell their development rights in ].

{{Wide image|ThacherParkPano.jpg|800px|An edge of the Helderberg Escarpment, visible to the right}}
{{Wide image|helderbergescarpment.jpg|800px|The Helderberg Escarpment, as seen from below}}

==See also==
*]


==References== ==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Hudson River}}
{{Authority control}}

]
]
]
]
]


{{AlbanyCountyNY-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 00:15, 26 September 2024

Mountain in New York, United States
Helderberg Escarpment
Helderberg Escarpment is located in New York Adirondack ParkHelderberg EscarpmentHelderberg EscarpmentLocation of the Helderberg Escarpment within New YorkShow map of New York Adirondack ParkHelderberg Escarpment is located in the United StatesHelderberg EscarpmentHelderberg EscarpmentHelderberg Escarpment (the United States)Show map of the United States
Highest point
Elevation1,197 feet (365 m)
Coordinates42°34′41″N 74°00′07″W / 42.5780153°N 74.0019710°W / 42.5780153; -74.0019710, 42°33′24″N 73°58′59″W / 42.5566851°N 73.9830251°W / 42.5566851; -73.9830251,42°38′16″N 73°59′30″W / 42.6377105°N 73.9916288°W / 42.6377105; -73.9916288,42°29′55″N 73°58′11″W / 42.4986037°N 73.9696691°W / 42.4986037; -73.9696691,42°38′16″N 74°00′41″W / 42.6377943°N 74.0114526°W / 42.6377943; -74.0114526
Geography
LocationSSE of Altamont, New York, U.S.
Topo map(s)USGS Westerlo, Clarksville, Voorheesville, Alcove, Altamont

The Helderberg Escarpment, also known as the Helderberg Mountains, is an escarpment in eastern New York, United States, roughly 11 miles (18 km) west of the city of Albany. The escarpment is the northeastern extremity of the Allegheny Plateau. It rises steeply from the Hudson Valley below, with an elevation difference of approximately 700 feet (from 400 to 1,100 feet) over a horizontal distance of approximately 2,000 feet. Much of the escarpment is within John Boyd Thacher State Park, and has views of the Hudson Valley and the Capital District.

Geology

Cross-section of the Helderberg Ridge.

The escarpment is part of the Onondaga Escarpment and is geologically related to the Niagara Escarpment, and the Black River Escarpment. The rocks exposed in the escarpment date back to the Middle Ordovician to Early Devonian.

In 1934 the Schenectady Gazette described how the Tory Cave, one of the limestone caves to be found in the escarpment, routinely had stalagmites of ice in the springtime.

Transmission towers

Most of the Capital District's television and FM radio stations installed their transmission towers at the escarpment to take advantage of its high ground. In 2003 a 499-foot (152 m) tower was built on the highest point of the escarpment, for transmitting digital television and FM radio signals.

History

Dutch settlers first homesteaded the plateau above the escarpment in the 17th century. Helleberg is a Dutch name meaning "clear mountain".

The Open Space Institute and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy are working to keep escarpment lands from being developed for housing or industrial uses. Farmers farming land near the escarpment can apply to sell their development rights, to help make sure that land is not developed. In 2003 the Ten Eyck family, owners of the Indian Ladder Farm just below the escarpment, sold the development rights to their farm for $848,000. Two real estate assessment were done, one on the value of the property as a working farm, the other on its value as a potential site for urban development. The Ten Eycks were paid the difference in return for agreeing to keep the property as a working farm. They were the first property owners to sell their development rights in Albany County.

An edge of the Helderberg Escarpment, visible to the right The Helderberg Escarpment, as seen from below

See also

References

  1. "Helderberg Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  2. "Significant Habitats and Habit Complexes of the New York Bight Watershed: Helderberg Escarpment". United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  3. "Helderberg Escarpment List of Species of Special Emphasis". United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  4. "North Estonian Klint and some of its analogues". 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-06-22. Retrieved 2013-08-01. Helderberg Escarpment in Albany County, New York State, is up to 300 m high and traceable over more than 100 km. The escarpment exposes rock complexes from a nearly 70-million-year time period (Middle Ordovician to Early Devonian), representing a moderate-grade slope in which harder Coeymans (Devonian) and Onondaga (Silurian) limestones are distinguishable as escarpments a few dozen metres in height.
  5. "Icy Stalagmites in Tory Cave". Schenectady Gazette. 1934-03-30. Retrieved 2013-08-01 – via Google News Archive.
  6. FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers in New Scotland, NY, http://www.city-data.com/towers/lmobile-New-Scotland-New-York.html
  7. Philip Schwartz (2005-02-20). "Area stations share a Helderberg tower". Daily Gazette (Schenectady). Retrieved 2013-08-01. In late 2003, a single, 499-foot transmission tower went up on the Helderberg escarpment in the Town of New Scotland, just outside Albany at the highest point in the immediate area.
  8. John K. Elberfeld, Jane B. McLean (2012). Helderberg Hilltowns. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738592688.
  9. O. D. von Engeln (1988). "The Finger Lakes Region: Its Origin and Nature". Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801495014. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  10. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 154.
  11. Jill Bryce (2003-05-16). "New Scotland Orchard protected from development". Daily Gazette (Schenectady). pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 2013-08-01 – via Google News Archive.
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