Opalescent River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opalescent River |
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Painting of a flume in the Opalescent River by Alexander H. Wyant
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Adirondacks |
| County | Essex |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Little Marcy Mountain Adirondack Mountains, New York, United States 4,200 ft (1,300 m) |
| River mouth | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
The Opalescent River is a cool river located in Essex County, New York. It's super important because it's the longest stream that feeds into the famous Hudson River. Imagine it as one of the main starting points for the Hudson! A part of this river is even called a "Wild River" by New York State. This means it's kept very natural and untouched.
The River's Journey
The Opalescent River starts high up on the west side of Little Marcy Mountain. It begins at over 4,200 feet (about 1,280 meters) above sea level!
After flowing for almost two miles, another stream called Feldspar Brook joins the Opalescent. Feldspar Brook actually starts from a tiny lake called Lake Tear of the Clouds.
The Opalescent River then flows through an area known as Flowed Lands. About 11 miles later, it meets Calamity Brook. At this point, the river officially becomes known as the Hudson River on maps.
The 11-mile part of the river from Flowed Lands to where it joins the Hudson River is special. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) calls it a New York State Wild River. This helps protect its natural beauty.
River History
In the 1800s, a man named David Henderson owned an iron mine nearby. He wanted to build a dam on the Opalescent River. His plan was to use the river's water to power his iron furnaces.
The dam was eventually built, but only after Henderson passed away in an accident. He was scouting locations for the dam when it happened. The dam sent water to Calamity Brook, which was named after this accident.
The dam stayed in place until 1984. That's when the DEC broke it down because of safety worries.
In 2015, the DEC bought a large piece of land, about 6,200 acres, for $4.2 million. This land, called the MacIntyre East Tract, includes seven miles of the lower Opalescent River. They bought it from a group called The Nature Conservancy.
This purchase was great for visitors! It opened up more areas for canoeing and kayaking. People can now also enjoy picnicking, fishing, and camping along the river's shores.
In 2018, the DEC suggested creating new parking spots along the upper Hudson River. These spots would make it easier for people to put their boats in and take them out. One of these spots was planned near where the Opalescent River meets the Hudson River.
Images for kids
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A canoeist on the Opalescent River near its confluence with the Hudson River (GPS 44.018172, -74.052487).
