Adirondack Mountains

The Adirondack Mountains (/ˌædɪˈrɒn.dæk/ ad-i-RON-dak) are a massif of mountains in Northeastern New York State which form a circular dome approximately 160 miles (260 km) wide and covering about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km). The region contains more than 100 peaks, including Mount Marcy, which is the highest point in New York at 5,344 feet (1,629 m). The Adirondack High Peaks, a traditional list of 46 peaks over 4,000 feet (1,200 m), are popular hiking destinations. There are over 200 named lakes with the number of smaller lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water reaching over 3,000. Among the named lakes around the mountains are Lake George, Lake Placid, and Lake Tear of the Clouds. The region has over 1,200 miles (1,900 km) of rivers.

Although the mountains are formed from ancient rocks more than 1 billion years old, geologically, the mountains are relatively young and were created during recent periods of glaciation. Because of this, the Adirondacks have been referred to as "new mountains from old rocks". It is theorized that there is a hotspot beneath the region, which causes continued uplift at the rate of 0.06 to 0.12 inches (1.5 to 3 mm) annually.