Moss Island, National Natural Landmark in Little Falls, New York.
Moss Island is a natural island in Little Falls, New York, situated between the Mohawk River and the Barge Canal. Its southern face is made up of metasyenite rock walls with deep circular potholes carved into the stone by natural erosion over a long time.
The island took its current shape when canal locks were built in 1793 to allow boats to pass around the falls on the Mohawk River. The site was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973 in recognition of its geological formations.
Rock climbers gather at the metasyenite cliffs, where over 100 different climbing routes range from beginner to advanced levels.
The island is reached by a walkway next to the canal gate, which crosses over the water to the site. Parking is free on-site, and the area is easy to walk around once you arrive.
The rock on the island is metasyenite, a type found in very few places along the eastern United States, which makes it of real interest to geologists. Climbing routes of different levels have been set up directly on these walls, so the island draws both scientists and sport climbers.
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