The Adirondack High Peaks are a set of 46 mountain peaks in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state. They are a popular hiking destination with winter ski resorts. The region contains many alpine lakes and meadows, wetlands, streams, and forests. Atop the highest peaks, above the tree line, lies a small alpine ecosystem, a remnant of a larger lowland tundra that retreated uphill following the most recent period of glaciation. The amount of this ecosystem is constantly changing due to variation in the climate from year to year. The Adirondack Mountains are covered with spruce, hemlock, and pine forests interspersed with hardwoods on the lower slopes. White-tailed deer and black bear and Moose are the largest species of wildlife. The action of retreating glaciers during the last Pleistocene Ice Age left the area covered by glacial till (intermingled clay, sand, gravel, and boulders) and created the many spectacular gorges, waterfalls, lakes, ponds, and swamps. The name Adirondack is derived from an Iroquois word meaning âeater of tree bark".
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