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10 Surprising Facts About The Adirondacks In New York
Most people think of the Adirondack region in New York for its great hiking opportunities, but the area also holds a lot of records and history that many people don't know about, locals included. To provide some information on the uniqueness of the Adirondacks, here is a list of 10 fun facts you probably didn't know. Additionally, if you'd like a more visual tour of the area, check out the gallery below.1. The Adirondack Chair was created in Westport, New York, on the Adirondack Coast of Lake Champlain.
2. The source of the Hudson River is located on the highest lake in New York State – Lake Tear of the Clouds on Mount Marcy – at 5,344 feet.
3. In 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as President of the United States at North Creek Station. This was after learning that President William McKinley – who had been shot a few weeks earlier – had died.
4. The Adirondack Mountains are growing faster than the Himalayas, at a rate of one foot every 100 years.
5. Lake Placid, located in the northern Adirondack Park, is one of three places in the world to host the Winter Olympic Games twice, once in 1932 and 1980. The village was the first place in North America to host the event twice.
6. The term "vacation" is said to have originated in the Adirondacks. Wealthy New Yorkers would "vacate" the city during the sticky summer months and head for the cool northern woods.
7. The Adirondack Park spans 6.1 million acres and is larger than the state of Massachusetts. In fact, several National Parks could fit inside the Blue Line (the line on a map that designates the outline of the park), including Glacier, Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.
8. The Adirondack Park is the largest park in the continental United States.
9. The Prospect House, built in Blue Mountain Lake, was the first hotel in the United States to have electric lights.
10. Painted Pony Rodeo in Lake Luzerne – five miles west of Lake George – is the oldest weekly rodeo in the United States.
Gallery: Around the Adirondacks, New York
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Photos, North America, United States, Camping, Ecotourism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
eatallah Apr 6th 2012 8:20PM
Teddy Roosevelt was actually sworn in in Buffalo, New York in 1901 (he passed through North Creek Station on his way to Buffalo)
Bob VH Apr 6th 2012 9:02PM
The phrase that is usually used is "Roosevelt BECAME president as he was on his way to North Creek" - because, technically, the VP became the Predident at the moment of McKinley's death.
Bob Van Hise Apr 6th 2012 9:03PM
Although Mount Marcy is 5344' in elevation, Lake Tear of the Clouds is at the base of the mountain at just below 4300 feet, and is the highest pond source of the Hudson River.
licoriceval Apr 10th 2012 10:23AM
Fact #11. I was born in the Adirondacks. Fact #12. Many people refer to the Adirondacks as "God's Country."
john Apr 8th 2012 5:28PM
You would think that they could have hired a better photographer. See Carl Heilman's pics. for a better perspective.
jmkjr72 Apr 8th 2012 8:20PM
you notice that they left out the fact that they state has been takeing land for this park from famlies that have owned it for over a 100 years only to turn around and sell that land to developers
Derf Apr 8th 2012 10:49PM
I knew that. They have been doing the same thing in the Catskills for at least the last 60 years.
Nancy Apr 10th 2012 5:16PM
And don't forget about the lovely Adirondack Correctional Facility, conveniently located 15 minutes from downtown Lake Placid. Right off the main hightway. But don't worry, this State lockdown is well hidden and comes fully loaded with all the bells and whistles to keep those cons safely locked inside. But if they do escape, the bears, coyotes, wildcats will probably take care of them anyway.
Wally Apr 20th 2012 4:54PM
Rising a foot per century? Hard to believe. But then it would explain why climbing a peak is so much harder than it was 50 years ago. I thought I was just getting old.
Adirondack Boats Apr 21st 2012 9:34PM
One little fact not mentioned...the Adirondacks are home to more than 3,000 lakes, ponds, rivers and streams! www.AdirondackBoats.com Swimming and boating in the Adirondacks is spectacular... Also, Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks was the setting for "An American Tragedy" (1925), the novel by Theodore Dreiser.