Labrador Hollow Unique Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Labrador Hollow Unique Area |
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View of Tinker Falls within Labrador Hollow Unique Area
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 Labrador Hollow Unique Area
Location in New York
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| Location | Cortland and Onondaga counties, New York |
| Nearest city | Tully, New York |
| Area | 1,474 acres (5.97 km2) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Governing body | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
The Labrador Hollow Unique Area is a special place in New York State. It covers about 1,474 acres (or 5.97 square kilometers). This area is found in Cortland and Onondaga counties. It was the very first place in New York to be called a "Unique Area."
This beautiful area is next to Kettlebail State Forest and Morgan Hill State Forest. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation looks after it. Labrador Hollow is open for everyone to visit and enjoy. It is home to Labrador Pond and the amazing Tinker Falls.
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Exploring Labrador Hollow's Natural Wonders
Labrador Hollow is a fascinating place with unique natural features. It sits in a valley that was carved by glaciers long ago. This valley is about half a mile wide and has very steep sides. Because of its shape, the valley stays shaded for most of the day.
This shading makes the area cooler than you might expect. It helps special plants grow here, like those found in mountain bogs. You might see plants similar to those in the Adirondacks!
Discovering Tinker Falls
Tinker Falls, sometimes called Tinkers Falls, is a beautiful waterfall. It drops about 50 feet (15 meters) down a rocky cliff. A small stream created this waterfall by cutting through layers of rock.
The stream first cut through a soft rock called shale. Below that is a harder layer of limestone, about 20 to 30 feet thick. Underneath the limestone is more shale. The limestone wears away much slower than the shale. This difference in erosion created a natural amphitheater behind the falls.
About Labrador Pond
Labrador Pond is a large pond, covering about 102 acres (0.41 square kilometers). It is quite shallow, with a maximum depth of only 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters). The pond is full of different kinds of warm-water fish.
You'll also find lots of aquatic plants growing in the pond. Water flows out of Labrador Pond into Labrador Creek. This creek then joins the east branch of the Tioughnioga River.
Fun Things to Do at Labrador Hollow
Labrador Hollow Unique Area is a great place for outdoor activities. It's open to the public for many fun things. You can go hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. It's also perfect for watching nature and wildlife.
Fishing and hunting are allowed in certain areas. You can also enjoy boating, but only with non-motorized boats. If you like adventure, there's even a hang glider launch site on a hillside!
Trails and Accessibility
The area has about 4.8 miles (7.7 kilometers) of maintained trails. There's also a special boardwalk that's 2,000 feet (610 meters) long. This boardwalk is great for everyone, including those using wheelchairs. It goes through the wetlands at the north end of Labrador Pond.
You can also find an accessible fishing pier on the pond's western shore. There's even an easy trail to see Tinker Falls from its base. In 2014, trails to the amphitheater behind the falls and to the top of the falls were improved.
Fishing at Labrador Pond
Labrador Pond is home to many sportfish species. You might catch chain pickerel, largemouth bass, or pumpkinseed. Other fish include bluegill, yellow perch, common carp, and brown bullhead.
You can fish from the pier on the western shore. You can also launch non-motorized boats from the same spot to fish. To protect the delicate plants and animals along the shore, fishing directly from the shoreline is not allowed.
Rules for Visitors
To keep Labrador Hollow beautiful and safe, some rules are in place. Camping and building fires are not allowed within the unique area itself. However, you can do primitive camping in the state forest properties nearby.
