The largest of the northeastern states, New York State stretches from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic. The falls at Niagara; the gorge of the Genesee, the Grand Canyon of the East; the Finger Lakes, carved by glaciers; the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence; the Catskills, where Rip Van Winkle is said to have slept for 20 years; the white sand beaches of Long Island; the lakes and forested peaks of the Adirondacks; and the stately traprock bluffs along the Hudson-these are a few of the features that attract millions of tourists and vacationers every year.
When Giovanni da Verrazano entered New York Harbor in 1524, the Native Americans of the state were at constant war with one another. But around 1570, under Dekanawidah and Hiawatha, they formed the Iroquois Confederacy (the first League of Nations) and began to live in peace. They were known as the Five Nations and called themselves the ''Men of Men.''
In 1609, Samuel de Champlain explored the valley of the lake that bears his name, and Henry Hudson sailed up the river that bears his. There was a trading post at Fort Nassau (Albany) in 1614. New Amsterdam (now New York City) was founded in 1625.
Wars with the Native Americans and French kept the area in turmoil until after 1763. During the Revolution, New York's eastern part was a seesaw of military action and occupation. After the war, Washington was inaugurated president in 1789, and the seat of federal government was established in New York City. As late as 1825, much of New York's central area was swampy wilderness.
Governor DeWitt Clinton envisioned a canal extending from the Hudson River at Albany to Buffalo to develop the state and give needed aid to its western farmers. Started in 1817 and finished in 1825, the Erie Canal became the gateway to the West and was the greatest engineering work of its time, reducing the cost of freight between Buffalo and New York City from $100 to $5 a ton. Enlarged and rerouted, it is now part of the New York State Canal system, 527 miles used mainly for recreational boating.
Industry grew because water power was available; trade and farming grew because of the Erie Canal and its many branches. The state has given the nation four native-born presidents (Van Buren, Fillmore, and both Roosevelts) and two who built their careers here (Cleveland and Arthur).
In addition to being a delightful state in which to tour or vacation, New York has New York City, one of the great cosmopolitan centers of the world. New York State is large, and the weather is varied. The northern and western parts of the state experience more extreme temperatures-cold, snowy winters and cool summers. Winters are long, especially near the Great Lakes. The Adirondacks, too, can have frigid winters, but fall foliage is magnificent, and summer temperatures and humidity are ideal. Spring thunderstorms frequently travel the Hudson River Valley, and summers here, as well as in New York City and its environs, are hot and humid.
Water-related activities, hiking, riding, various other sports, picnicking and visitor centers, as well as camping, are available in many of New York's parks and recreation areas. There are more than 200 outdoor state recreation facilities, including state parks, forest preserves, and similar areas. The state also provides funds for maintenance of 7,300 miles of trails for snowmobiling. There is a $4 fee for boat launching at some state parks. Pets on leash where allowed. New York state offers excellent fishing and hunting opportunities, with a wide variety of lengthy seasons.
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