New York State Physical Regions

Color Map on page 5 like this…

Great Lakes Plain • Land is flat • Summers cooler and winters snowier “snow belt” • Lakes Erie & Ontario ports have direct access to Atlantic Ocean via St. Lawrence River

Adirondack Mountains • North of the Mohawk River • Forested, rounded mountains with many lakes and streams

Mohawk River • Runs East to West • Only low land (valley) route from Atlantic Ocean through mountains • Important trade route through the state

Hudson River • Albany (state capital) is on the river bank • Runs North and South • Water route connecting NYC to Mohawk River and Lake Champlain • Important trade route and military value

Long Island Plain • New York City area, the state’s largest urban areas, located here • Creates a large sheltered harbor

Catskill Mountains • East of NYC • South of the Mohawk River • Rocky and rugged landscape

Allegany Plateau • Occupies 1/3 of the total area of New York State • Very hilly, less rugged than the Adirondack or Catskill Mountains