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Rensselaer Plateau
Ecoregion
in
Appalachian Mountains
,
NY
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The Rensselaer Plateau, although small in area, is distinctive because of its geology. The plateau is underlain by a mass of greywacke, an ancient sandstone largely composed of quartzite, which is resistant to erosion. An escarpment separates the plateau from the Taconic Mountains (58a) and Taconic Foothills (58x). On the rolling, hummocky terrain of the plateau, drier uplands alternate with many ponds and wetlands. The abundant wetlands range from red maple-hardwood and spruce-fir swamps to kettle ponds and sphagnum bogs. The thin soil, numerous wetlands, northern hardwoods, and abundant evergreen tree cover give the Rensselaer Plateau a northern character that exceeds its elevation and latitude. The Rensselaer Plateau’s relatively unbroken forest is an important refuge for birds and other wildlife such as fisher, bobcat, bear, and even moose. Several mines in the region quarry greywacke for road construction.
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Rensselaer Plateau
Rensselaer Plateau
Rensselaer Plateau
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