The Berkshires
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Berkshires (pronounced as "berk-shurs" or "berk-sheers") is a region located in Western Massachusetts (with portions located in the adjacent states of Vermont, New York, and Connecticut). The region is also often referred to as the "Berkshire Hills." Tourism is a principal industry, relying heavily on cultural art attractions and recreation due to its natural beauty. Mount Greylock, 3,491 ft (1,064 m), is the highest point in the Berkshire region and in the state. The Housatonic, Hoosic, and Westfield River watersheds primarily drain from the region. Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington and Lenox are the largest municipalities in the Berkshires.Contents |
[edit] Context
Depending on the application "The Berkshires" may have several different meanings. 1) Geographically, the Berkshire Hills are a southern extension of the Green Mountains, but it is also generally applied to all highlands in Western Massachusetts. 2) Politically, Berkshire County was a governing body formed in 1761 and mostly discontinued in 2000. 3) Culturally, the Berkshire region is the extreme western region of Massachusetts including adjacent portions of southern Vermont, eastern New York and northwestern Connecticut that is associated with tourism and the arts.
[edit] Geology
Over half a billion years ago Africa collided with North America, pushing up the Appalachian Mountains and forming the Taconic bedrock of the Berkshires. Erosion over hundreds of millions of years wore these mountains down to the hills that we see today. See also: Taconic orogeny.
[edit] Ecology
Much of the Hoosic and Housatonic River Valleys have underlying bedrock limestone and marble which contribute to calcareous wetlands, unique to Massachusetts. The alkaline pH waters support a diversity of plants and animals intolerant of more acidic waters, some which are state-listed rare or endangered. Combined with the rich mesic forests ranging from the northern hardwood to the boreal or sub-alpine, makes for a valuable, biologically diverse ecosystem.
Today, efforts are being made on behalf of many organizations to preserve and manage this region for biological diversity and sustainable human development. Recreation directly related to this ecology is a popular area for trout fishing, and the area's relative pristineness contributes to the popularity of nature walks in the region. See also: Natural History of the Berkshires
[edit] Sightseeing
The Berkshires are a popular tourist attraction and vacation getaway, serving the same function in relation to Connecticut and Massachusetts that the Catskills do in New York and the Poconos for Pennsylvania. With numerous trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail, large tracts of wilderness, parks like Kent Falls, Berkshire Botanical Garden and Hebert Arboretum the Berkshires are very popular with nature lovers. The range includes Bash Bish Falls, the tallest waterfall in Massachusetts.
Northwestern Connecticut features the covered bridges of Kent and West Cornwall, spectacular fall folliage along the Housatonic River valley and the quiet woods of the aforementioned Appalachian trail.
Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Chapin Library offers a wide selection of rare books and documents for display. The Norman Rockwell Museum, Clark Art Institute, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MassMoCA), and Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) comprise the region's diverse selection of art museums, and Gallery 51, Carrie Haddad Gallery and Kolok Gallery are three of the Area's highly regarded private art galleries.
The area is also home to numerous summer stock theatre festivals, such as the Williamstown Theatre Festival (Williamstown), Berkshire Theatre Festival (Stockbridge), Shakespeare and Company (Lenox), and plays host to America's first and longest-running dance festival, Jacob's Pillow.
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
- Berkshire Visitor's Bureau
- Berkshireweb
- Berkshire Living Magazine
- Berkshire Eagle
- BerkshireRecordDotCom
- BerkshireEagleDotNetwork
- Berkshire Blog
- Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
- Hiking/outdoor activity information for Berkshire Mountains, Hudson Valley, and Litchfield Hills
- Article about the famous Joe's Diner in Lee, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts State Parks in the Berkshires
