The Mohawk Valley is a narrow passage between the Adirondacks to the north and the Appalachian Plateau to the south, and as one of New York State's ten physiographic provinces it provides the most accessible water-level route from eastern New York through the uplands of central New York to the Great Lakes Basin, which is why the Erie Canal was built along it. The Noses, two imposing hills on either side of the Mohawk River four miles east of Canajoharie, mark one of the valley's narrowest points. The Iroquois called this mountain range "the Turtle," and the hill on the north side of the river, now called Big Nose, is the turtle's head. The Beech-Nut Packing Company of Canajoharie was founded in 1891 as the Imperial Packing Co. and achieved its first major success by perfecting vacuum-sealed glass jars, which allowed products to be shipped to distant markets and kept for months without spoiling. Later successes included Beech-Nut chewing gum and baby food, for which the company became best known. In 2005 Beech-Nut was bought by a Swiss consumer goods firm, and after 118 years in Canajoharie a new factory was built 20 miles east in the Town of Florida, New York, near Amsterdam. The 750-mile Empire State Trail connects people to New York's natural beauty, cultural heritage, iconic landscapes, and outdoor recreation opportunities, linking urban centers, village main streets, and rural communities from New York City through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the historic Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks.