Known as "First American Wilderness," the Catskills extend from the Helderberg escarpment overlooking our State Capitol in Albany southwardly along the Catskills escarpment overlooking the Hudson River, to the rolling hills of Sullivan County, westerly to the lands memorialized by James Fenimore Cooper in the Leatherstocking region, and northerly to historic Rensselaerville, New York. The Catskill Mountains The 'Catskill Region' has been defined many different ways. Our definition of the Catskill Region (as indicated by the map below), consists of six and a half counties including Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster, in addition to six townships in Albany County (Berne, Knox, Westerlo, Coeymans, Rensalearville, ). To help people learn more about the Catskill Region and why it is unique and special, The Catskill Center has put together a GIS Atlas. Using maps made with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we were able to portray and educate people about many of the natural and human characteristics that define the Catskill Region. The Catskill Mountains are located in New York State, approximately 100 miles northwest of New York City. Encompassing six and a half counties, and over 6,000 square miles (about the size of Connecticut) of mountains, forests, rivers, and farmland, the Catskills are often referred to as America's First Wilderness because scholars trace the beginnings of the environmental conservation movement to this beautiful area. With almost three dozen mountain peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation and six major river systems, the Catskills are an ecological resource of significant importance. Pure air and water, rich farmland, parks and forests, clear-flowing streams, cascading waterfalls, grand panoramic views, and historic villages characterize the Catskills. Long renowned as a prime vacation destination, the Catskills offer a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, camping, biking, rock and ice climbing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, or just plain rubber-necking. The Catskill Park and Forest Preserve The Catskills embrace over 700,000 acres of parkland contained in the State-designated Catskill Park, over a quarter of a million acres of which are designated as forever wild forest which make up the Catskill Forest Preserve. The Catskill Park was established by the NYS Legislature in 1904, and encompasses an area of Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties in which state-owned or acquired lands were classified as forever wild Forest Preserve. The Catskill Park is a checkerboard of public and privately-owned lands. While the percentages change when the State acquires new land, the ratio of private to public is about two to one -- the state owns over one-third of the land within the park boundaries, and the balance is privately owned. These State-owned lands within the "blue line" boundary of the Catskill Park are designated as the Catskill Forest Preserve, and the New York State Constitution requires that these lands be forever kept as wild forest. Over the century since it was first established, the Catskill Forest Preserve has grown from its original 33,894 acres to its current total of over 287,000 acres, and now constitutes over 40 percent of the total area of the Catskill Park. The Forest Preserve encompasses the highest mountains in the Catskills, including many of the 35 peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation. The State of New York continues to acquire land within the Catskill Park to add to its Forest Preserve holdings, with the goal of preserving lands of critical ecological importance to the Catskill Mountain region. As part of the Center's Land Protection Program, the Center purchases, holds, and conveys key parcels to the State for inclusion in the Catskill Forest Preserve. 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the Catskill Park. To heighten awareness of this special occasion, a Catskill Park Centennial Committee was formed and scheduled activities, events, and much more. To learn more about the Catskill Park, visit www.catskillpark.org