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For other uses, see Palisades (disambiguation).

The Palisades, also called the New Jersey Palisades or the Hudson Palisades, are a line of steep cliffs along the west side of the lower Hudson River in northeast New Jersey and southern New York in the United States. The cliffs stretch north from Jersey City approximately 20 mi (32 km) to near Nyack, New York. They rise nearly vertically from near the edge of the river, ranging in height between 350 ft (107 m) and 550 ft (168 m). The cliffs are among the most dramatic geologic features in the vicinity of New York City, forming a canyon of the Hudson north of Fort Lee, as well as providing a dramatic vista of the New York City skyline from the opposite bank of the Hudson.

Geology and History

The cliffs are the margin of a diabase sill, formed approximately 200 million years ago at the close of the Triassic Period by the intrusion of molten magma upward into sandstone. The molten material cooled and solidified before reaching the surface. Subsequent water erosion of the softer sandstone left behind the columnar structure of harder rock that exists today. The cliffs are approximately 1000 ft (300 m) thick in sections and were probably originally 1000 ft (300 m) high, approximately twice as high as they are today.

The Lenape called the cliffs "We-awk-en", meaning "rocks that look like rows of trees" (Weehawken, New Jersey, which sits at the top of the cliffs across from Manhattan, takes it name from the Lenape word).

In the 19th century, the cliffs were subject to widespread quarrying for railroad ballast, leading to local efforts to preserve the cliffs. A section of the cliffs north of Fort Lee were subsequently purchased by John D. Rockefeller, who donated them to the State for permanent preservation. The land is now a part of Palisades Interstate Park, a popular destination for hiking and other outdoor recreational activities, that also includes Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, Minnewaska State Park Preserve and several other parks and historic sites in the region.

In June of 1983, the Palisades were designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Parks Service.

The term cliffhanger was created on the Palisades, when the popular silent movie serial The Perils of Pauline used locations around Fort Lee, then a major movie capital.

Crossings of the Palisades

This list runs from south to north. The south end of the Palisades is subjective.

New Jersey/New York state line
  • Washington Springs Road

See also

External link

Cliffs of the United States | Geography of New Jersey | Hudson River | Palisades Interstate Park system

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "New Jersey Palisades".

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