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Catskill Mountains Worksheets Facts & Worksheets

The Catskill Mountains is a large mountain range in southeast New York State located between Albany and New York City.

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The Catskill Mountains are a large mountain range in southeast New York State. They are located between Albany and New York City. The mountains are made up of both public and private property, which makes up the Catskill Park’s 700,000 acres.

See the fact file below for more information on the Catskill Mountains or alternatively, you can download our 29-page Catskill Mountains worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CATSKILLS ORIGIN

  • The Catskill Mountain region was part of a shallow sea 500 million years ago.
  • The Catskill area was filled with sand and mud from the erosion of the mountains that were just made. 
  • The immense mountains kept putting sediment into the sea. This made the sea go west and it formed the Catskills.
  • Millions of years ago, the Catskill Delta was near the sea. 
  • Then the North American and European continents pushed together, causing some plates to buckle. 
  • Today, you can see the result of this movement in the Appalachian Mountain range which runs from Tennessee to Newfoundland.
  • The Catskill Mountains were carved out from a flat land so the peaks are all about the same height.
  • There are some people who do not think that the Catskills are mountains. These people think that they were formed by erosion, not by folding or faulting. So they call them “dissected plateau”.

THE WISCONSIN GLACIER

  • During the Cenozoic era, the Illinoian glaciation flowed south from the north, carving out the lower slopes of the eastern edge of the Catskills.
  • A warmer climate followed, and over time, the ice retreated. 
  • The most recent glaciation to cover the majority of the Catskills and Hudson River valley was the Wisconsin glaciation. 
  • The source of the Wisconsin glacier was in Canada. The glacier went southwest through New York. It flowed along and the topography determined the route.
  • The Catskills had a significant impact on the rate of glacial advances.
  • As the glacier retreated, it left behind huge alpine glaciers in the valleys. Thousands of lakes were eventually formed as a result.

THE CATSKILL PARK

  • The Catskill Park is located just a short drive north of New York City.
  • The Catskill Park offers five of the 10 highest peaks, backcountry and family-friendly campgrounds, incredible winter hiking and ice-fishing, as well as Nordic ski and snowshoe trails. 
  • Wildlife viewing is also popular in the park. 
  • The three main types of forests in the eastern Catskills are spruce-fir forest, northern hardwoods forest, and oak-hickory forest.
  • The Catskills High Peaks have many rocky headwater streams. The highest peak is called Slide Mountain.
  • There are also several waterfalls.
  • The Catskill Park is important because of the large, continuous forest and pristine stream habitats it has. 
  • These habitats are important for many different species of animals.
  • The Catskills support over 120 species of breeding birds, including the threatened bald eagle. 
  • This bird uses the reservoirs in the Catskills for nesting and wintering.
  • The trout waters of the Catskills are famous. Many anglers, especially fly fishers, have fished there.
  • In the Catskills, you can see black bears. They usually try to stay away from humans. 
  • You might also see bobcats. These are carnivorous cats that are good at hiding.
  • You can also find white-tail deer. They are common prey for coyotes and cougars.
  • The Catskills are home to two dangerous snakes, the Timber Rattlesnake and the Copperhead.
  • Millions of years ago, the Catskill Delta was near the sea. 
  • Then the North American and European continents pushed together, causing some plates to buckle. 
  • Today, you can see the result of this movement in the Appalachian Mountain range which runs from Tennessee to Newfoundland.
  • The Catskill Mountains were carved out from a flat land so the peaks are all about the same height.
  • There are some people who do not think that the Catskills are mountains. These people think that they were formed by erosion, not by folding or faulting. So they call them “dissected plateau”.

CATSKILLS CULTURAL IMPACT

  • The name Catskill comes from the Dutch word for “Wildcat Creek.”
  • The Catskills have been a part of American culture for a long time. 
  • Many famous paintings from the 19th century were created there, and the Woodstock Festival happened there in 1969.
  • The steep-sided valleys and massive, rounded uplands make up a natural wilderness that is easy to get to from New York City.
  • The area is very pretty because it is covered in forests with a mix of broad-leaved trees and coniferous trees. 
  • The rocky cliffs make the scenery even more beautiful.
  • The Catskill Park is a popular destination for tourists and people who like the outdoors. The park, which is owned by the state, has a forest preserve that people can go to. There are many activities that people can do there.
  • The mountains were made famous by Washington Irving’s short stories about the legendary Rip Van Winkle. 
  • Rip Van Winkle supposedly took a long nap near the town of Catskill, on the Hudson River at the eastern entrance to the park.
  • The Catskill Mountains have several artificial lakes that are important to the water supply of New York City. 
  • The Catskills offer a variety of trails, from short, family-friendly hikes to peaks that are over 3500 feet high.
  • There are several museums at the Catskills:
    • Thomas Cole Museum
    • Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum
    • Hanford Mills Museum
    • James Cox Gallery at Woodstock

THOMAS COLE

  • Thomas Cole was an American artist and environmentalist. 
  • Cole was an immigrant who founded the first major art movement in this nation. The movement is now known as the Hudson River School.
  • He wrote about the Catskills:

To be sepulchered here – to rest upon
The spot of earth that living I have loved
Where yon far mountains steep, would constant look
Upon the grave of one who lov’d to gaze on them.

  • From the house which today is a museum, Thomas Cole created many of the Hudson River School masterpieces that brought him fame.
  • You can still see the Catskill Mountains’ panoramic views and the “Wall of Manitou” from Cole’s house.

Catskill Mountains Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Catskill Mountains across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Catskill Mountains which is a large mountain range in southeast New York State.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Catskill Mountains Facts
  • Let’s Go Camping!
  • Oviparous or Viviparous?
  • What is the Weather Today?
  • Top Peaks
  • The Cycle of a Coniferous Tree
  • The Tale of Rip Van Winkle
  • Where is That Museum?
  • Washington Irving
  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
  • A Trip to the Catskills

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Link will appear as Catskill Mountains Worksheets Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 14, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.