What are the Catskills?

The Catskills, more formally known as the Catskill Mountains, are a mountain range in New York state. These mountains have been used for summer homes and resorts since the 1800s, and as a result, many people associate them with vacationing and nature, especially in the Jewish community, thanks to the famous "Borscht Belt" of Jewish resorts in the Catskills. Because the land of the Catskills is difficult to farm, they have been vulnerable to resort development, although several conservation organizations have worked to have sections of the mountains set aside as preserves so that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty of the Catskill Mountains.

These famous mountains lie North of New York City and South of Albany, the state capital. Many people consider the Catskills to be part of the Appalachian Range, as they do appear to form an extension of this notable mountain range, but in fact the Catskills are geologically separate from the Appalachians, and, actually, they aren't mountains at all.

Technically speaking, the Catskills are what is known as a "dissected plateau." A dissected plateau is a geological plateau which has been subjected to enough uplift to cause it to rise noticeably above the surrounding landscape, and then severely eroded. The erosion carves out deep valleys and gullies, creating a landscape which looks and feels mountainous. The Allegheny Plateau, which houses the Catskills, stretches back and down into the neighboring states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

For all practical purposes, however, the Catskills look like mountains, feel like mountains, and act like mountains, with a range of hiking trails which can be used in the summer, and skiing and snowshoeing spots enjoyed by people in the winter. Although the Catskills are famously rocky, they are also covered abundantly in local plant species, making them quite attractive in the eyes of many nature lovers, and the terrain is quite varied, climbing as high as 4,204 feet (1,282 meters) in places and proving sweeping views of the surrounding river valleys.

There is some debate as to the name of the Catskills, and in fact the name wasn't set in stone until the 19th century. While the origins of the name are undoubtedly Dutch, the precise translation is disputed. Some people say that "Catskill" should be translated as "cat creek," a reference to the abundant rivers in the area and the once abundant mountain lions. Others believe that the Dutch word in the name is actually a reference to Native American fortification, which would have lined the rivers of the region.