The Catskill Mountains

The Catskill Mountains rise above the Hudson River beside one of the most popular resort areas in the United States. Dutchmen of the seventeenth century called these time-worn mountains Kaatskill, meaning Cat Creek, probably because wildcats once roamed the area. This group of gently sloping peaks, only two of which exceed 4,000 feet, has contributed to the pleasure, economy, and culture of generations of New Yorkers. During the nineteenth century, Catskill forests supplied timber for lumber mills, tanneries, and furniture factories, and they also provided the setting for several literary works, the most famous being Rip Van Winkle. Many artists depicted the area's scenic beauty in their landscapes. In the early twentieth century, conservationists fearing that the region's natural resources would be stripped created the Catskill Forest Preserve. Through the work of this state agency, fields have returned to woodlot and shorn hills have grown new timber.

Rockland, New York · United States