Chesterfield Gorge
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Chesterfield Gorge
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 View of the gorge with the eastern branch of the Westfield River |
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| location | Massachusetts , United States | |
| surface | 67.2 ha | |
| WDPA ID | 55553226 | |
| Geographical location | 42 ° 24 ' N , 72 ° 53' W | |
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| Setup date | 1929 | |
| administration | The Trustees of Reservations | |
Chesterfield Gorge ( German Chesterfield Gorge ) is a 166 acres (67.2 ha ) nature reserve near the city of Chesterfield in the state of Massachusetts in the United States and is administered by the organization The Trustees of Reservations .
history
A bridge originally built around 1762 crossed the gorge and crossed an important part of the Boston Post Road from Boston to Albany . At its eastern end was a customs gate to collect fees from the stagecoaches crossing the bridge . During the American Revolutionary War , after their defeat in Saratoga, New York , the British marched over the bridge towards Boston. In 1835, the bridge, as well as nearby sawmills and flour mills, were destroyed by a tidal wave. Today only a few stone foundations remain from it.
The first parts of the protected area were acquired by the trustees in 1929, further areas followed in 1949, 1950, 1955 and most recently in 1994.
Protected area
The reserve is laid out along the gorge of the same name , which the Westfield River has dug into the landscape over thousands of years, and forms only a small part of a much larger reserve along the course of the river. Visitors can learn about the geological past of the region as well as enjoy various leisure activities such as fishing , hiking and cycling .
Today's gorge was formed by uplift around 500 million years ago, which was then formed by glaciers and meltwater. The walls of the canyon tower up to 70 ft (21.3 m ) high and can be explored via a path that runs along its top. Hemlocks , ash and oaks dominate the reserve ; it is also home to bears , bobcats and turkeys .
Because of its significant environmental and recreational value, the reserve has been registered as a National Wild and Scenic River . It is open from April 1st to December 1st from 8 a.m. to sunset.
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ Property History. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed December 1, 2013 .
- ↑ About Chesterfield Gorge. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed December 1, 2013 .