The Berkshires - wikipedia The Berkshires This article is about a geologic and cultural region in the United States. For other uses, see Berkshire ( disambiguation ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2008 ) The Berkshires Region of Massachusetts and Connecticut A view of the Berkshires from near North Adams, Massachusetts Country United States States Massachusetts and Connecticut Berkshires Berkshire Hills, Berkshire Mountains Highest point Peak Crum Hill Elevation 2,841 ft ( 866 m ) Coordinates 42 ° 42 ′ 40 '' N 73 ° 01 ′ 11 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 42.71111 ° N 73.01972 ° W ﻿ / 42.71111 ; - 73.01972 Length 98 mi ( 158 km ) north - south Geography Berkshires labeled as B Country United States State Massachusetts and Connecticut Range coordinates 42 ° 10 ′ 0.325 '' N 73 ° 8 ′ 58.385 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 42.16675694 ° N 73.14955139 ° W ﻿ / 42.16675694 ; - 73.14955139 Coordinates : 42 ° 10 ′ 0.325 '' N 73 ° 8 ′ 58.385 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 42.16675694 ° N 73.14955139 ° W ﻿ / 42.16675694 ; - 73.14955139 Geology Type of rock Metamorphic The Berkshires ( locally / ˈbɜːrkʃɪərz, - ʃərz / ) are a highland geologic region located in the western parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The term `` Berkshires '' is normally used by locals in reference to the portion of the Vermont - based Green Mountains that extends south into western Massachusetts ; the portion extending further south into northwestern Connecticut is locally referred to as either the Northwest Hills or Litchfield Hills. Also referred to as the Berkshire Hills, Berkshire Mountains, and Berkshire Plateau, the region enjoys a vibrant tourism industry based on music, arts, and recreation. Geologically, the mountains are a range of the Appalachian Mountains. The Berkshires was named among the 200 Last Great Places by The Nature Conservancy. Contents 1 Definition 1.1 Political 1.2 Cultural 1.3 Geographic 1.3. 1 Formation 1.3. 2 Elevation 1.3. 3 Rivers 1.3. 4 Counties 1.3. 5 Municipalities 2 History 3 Ecology 4 Tourism 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Definition The term `` The Berkshires '' has overlapping but non-identical political, cultural, and geographic definitions. Political Politically, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, was formed as a governing body in 1761 ; it includes the western extremity of the state, with its western boundary bordering New York and its eastern boundary roughly paralleling the watershed divide separating the Connecticut River watershed from the Housatonic River - Hoosic River watersheds. Cultural Culturally, the term `` Berkshires '' includes all of the highland region in western Massachusetts west of the Connecticut River and lower Westfield River, and ( under the name `` Litchfield Hills '' ) all of northwest Connecticut from the Farmington River valley in the northern part of the state in a diagonal arc west to Winsted and Litchfield, then southwest to Lake Candlewood on the New York border and ending in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The cultural region also includes the Taconic Mountains bordering New York, which are geologically distinct from the Berkshires orogeny. Southwest Vermont and the Taconic region of New York are occasionally grouped with the Berkshires cultural region. Sir Francis Bernard, the royal governor ( in office 1760 - 1769 ), named the area `` Berkshire '' to honor his home county in England. Geographic The Mount Greylock massif seen from the west in winter, with the deep valley known as `` The Hopper '' directly below the summit Geologically and physically, the Berkshires are the southern continuation of the Green Mountains of Vermont, distinct from them only by their lower average elevation and by virtue of what side of the border they fall on. In physical geography, the Berkshires extend from the Housatonic River and Hoosic River valleys in western Massachusetts, to the Connecticut River valley in north - central Massachusetts, and to the foot of the lower Westfield River valley in south - central Massachusetts. In Connecticut, where they are referred to as the Litchfield Hills, they extend from the upper Housatonic River valley in the northwest part of the state, south along the western border of the state, east to the Farmington River valley in north - central Connecticut, south to the Quinnipiac River valley in central Connecticut, then southwest to the Housatonic River valley in southwest Connecticut. Geologically, the Berkshires are bordered on the west by the Taconic Mountains, the marble valleys of the Hoosic River and Housatonic River and, further south, by the Hudson Highlands ; to the east, they are bordered by the Metacomet Ridge geology. They are on the average 1,000 ft ( 300 m ) lower and less prominent than the Green Mountains of Vermont, and form a broad, dissected plateau punctuated by hills and peaks and cut by river valleys. The Berkshires topography gradually diminishes in profile and elevation from west to east and from north to south, except where rivers have cut deep gorges and sharp bluff faces into the Berkshire plateau. Formation The Berkshires and related Green Mountains formed over half a billion years ago when Africa collided with North America, pushing up the Appalachian Mountains and forming the bedrock of the Berkshires. Erosion over hundreds of millions of years wore these mountains down to the hills that we see today. Elevation The average regional elevation of the Berkshires ranges from about 700 to 1,200 feet ( 210 to 370 m ). One of the high points is Spruce Mountain, at 2,710 feet ( 830 m ). The highest point in the Berkshires physiographic region is Crum Hill, 2,841 feet ( 866 m ), in the town of Monroe ; however, nearby Mount Greylock of the Taconic Mountains, at 3,491 feet ( 1,064 m ) the highest point in the state of Massachusetts, is considered the high point of the Berkshires cultural region. Rivers The Housatonic River, Hoosic River, Westfield River, and Deerfield River watersheds drain the Berkshires region in Massachusetts ; in Connecticut the main river drainages are the Farmington River, the Naugatuck River, the Shepaug River, and the Housatonic River. Counties The Berkshire mountain range runs through : Berkshire County, Massachusetts ( all towns ) Hartford County, Connecticut ( Hartland, Granby ) Franklin County, Massachusetts ( western part ) Hampden County, Massachusetts ( Tolland, Chester, Granville, Blandford ) Hampshire County, Massachusetts ( western part ) Litchfield County, Connecticut ( all towns ) Municipalities The largest municipalities associated with the Berkshires cultural region include Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Williamstown, Stockbridge, Lee, and Lenox, Massachusetts. History During the American Revolution a Continental Army force under Henry Knox brought captured cannons from Fort Ticonderoga by ox - drawn sleds south along the west bank of the Hudson River from the fort to Albany, where he then crossed the Hudson. Knox and his men continued east through the Berkshires and finally arrived in Boston. This feat, known as the `` Noble train of artillery '', was accomplished in the dead of winter, 1775 - 1776. Ecology The Berkshires lie within the New England / Acadian forests ecoregion. Similarly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Massachusetts ( Griffith et al. 1994 ) has defined six ecoregions within this area : Taconic Mountains, Western New England Marble Valleys, Lower Berkshire Hills, Berkshire Highlands, Vermont Piedmont, and Berkshire Transition. Each region is distinct from the others, providing a unique habitat assemblage. Much of the Hoosic and Housatonic River valleys have underlying bedrock limestone and marble which contribute to calcareous wetlands unique in Massachusetts. The alkaline pH waters support a diversity of plants and animals intolerant of more acidic waters, some of which are state - listed rare or endangered. Combined with the rich mesic forests ranging from the northern hardwood to the taiga or sub-alpine, the Berkshires have a valuable, biologically diverse ecosystem. The classic study of the vegetation of the Berkshire Highlands was Egler 's 1940 monograph, covering the flora of an area stretching roughly from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the west to Hatfield, Massachusetts, in the east, and from Goshen, Connecticut, in the south to the Vermont border in the north. Today, efforts are being made by many organizations to preserve and manage this region for biological diversity and sustainable human development. See also : Natural History of the Berkshires. Tourism The Berkshires are a popular year - round premiere tourist destination and vacation getaway. The Berkshires are less than three hours from New York City and Boston and offer culture and adventure year - round. The surrounding mountains provide plenty of opportunity for outdoor excursions in all seasons, while world - class culture and entertainment along with a deeply rooted food culture and an array of lodging options amidst picturesque towns set this region apart. The Berkshires is a rural destination with a cultural scene to rival far larger urban dwellings. With numerous trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail, large tracts of wilderness, and parks like Kent Falls the tallest waterfall in Connecticut, Berkshire Botanical Garden and Hebert Arboretum, the Berkshires are very popular with nature lovers. The area includes Bash Bish Falls, the tallest waterfall in Massachusetts. The Berkshires are also home to dozens of summer camps, some of which date back to the turn of the 20th century. The Berkshire region is noted as a center for the visual and performing arts ; its art museums include the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Clark Art Institute, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art ( Mass MoCA ), and the Williams College Museum of Art ( WCMA ). At Williams College, the Chapin Library displays a wide selection of rare books and documents. Performing - arts institutions in the Berkshires include Tanglewood Music Center and Boston University Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra ; the Bang on a Can Summer Festival for contemporary music in North Adams ; Shakespeare & Company in Lenox ; summer stock theatre festivals such as the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge ; and America 's first and longest - running dance festival, Jacob 's Pillow, in the town of Becket. The Kripalu Center, `` North America 's largest residential facility for holistic health and education '', is located in Stockbridge. See also BerkShares Famous Berkshire Cottages : Naumkeag Edith Wharton 's The Mount Ventfort Hall Litchfield Hills Taconic Mountains Geography of Massachusetts List of mountains in Massachusetts Berkshire, England References Jump up ^ `` Berkshire Hills ''. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009 - 05 - 03. Jump up ^ McDonald, Martha ( June 2010 ). `` Winsome Twosome ''. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved March 28, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Where We Work > Regions > North America > Areas > Berkshire Taconic Landscape ''. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved March 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Raymo, Chet and Raymo, Maureen E. Written in Stone : A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States. Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989. Jump up ^ Olson, D. M, E. Dinerstein ; et al. ( 2001 ). `` Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World : A New Map of Life on Earth ''. BioScience. 51 ( 11 ) : 933 -- 938. doi : 10.1641 / 0006 - 3568 ( 2001 ) 051 ( 0933 : TEOTWA ) 2.0.CO ; 2. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Egler, F.E. 1940. `` Berkshire Plateau Vegetation, Massachusetts ''. Ecological Monographs 10 : 147 - 192. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ ( 2 ) External links Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Berkshire Hills. Berkshire Visitors Bureau Massachusetts State Parks in the Berkshires State of Connecticut Hartford ( capital ) Topics Index Constitution Delegations Elections Geography Government History Images People Tourist Attractions Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Party strength Regions Connecticut panhandle Coastal Connecticut Gold Coast Greater Bridgeport Greater Danbury Greater Hartford Greater New Haven Litchfield Hills Lower Connecticut River Valley Central Naugatuck Valley Naugatuck River Valley Quiet Corner Southeastern Connecticut Counties Fairfield Hartford Litchfield Middlesex New Haven New London Tolland Windham Cities Ansonia Bridgeport Bristol Danbury Derby Groton Hartford Meriden Middletown Milford New Britain New Haven New London Norwalk Norwich Shelton Stamford Torrington Waterbury West Haven All Towns Andover Ansonia Ashford Avon Barkhamsted Beacon Falls Berlin Bethany Bethel Bethlehem Bloomfield Bolton Bozrah Branford Bridgeport Bridgewater Bristol Brookfield Brooklyn Burlington Canaan Canterbury Canton Chaplin Cheshire Chester Clinton Colchester Colebrook Columbia Cornwall Coventry Cromwell Danbury Darien Deep River Derby Durham East Granby East Haddam East Hampton East Hartford East Haven East Lyme East Windsor Eastford Easton Ellington Enfield Essex Fairfield Farmington Franklin Glastonbury Goshen Granby Greenwich Griswold Groton Guilford Haddam Hamden Hampton Hartford Hartland Harwinton Hebron Hartford Kent Killingly Killingworth Lebanon Ledyard Lisbon Litchfield Lyme Madison Manchester Mansfield Marlborough Meriden Middlebury Middlefield Middletown Milford Monroe Montville Morris Naugatuck New Britain New Canaan New Fairfield New Hartford New Haven New London New Milford Newington Newtown Norfolk North Branford North Canaan North Haven North Stonington Norwalk Norwich Old Lyme Old Saybrook Orange Oxford Plainfield Plainville Plymouth Pomfret Portland Preston Prospect Putnam Redding Ridgefield Rocky Hill Roxbury Salem Salisbury Scotland Seymour Sharon Shelton Sherman Simsbury Somers South Windsor Southbury Southington Sprague Stafford Stamford Sterling Stonington Stratford Suffield Thomaston Thompson Tolland Torrington Trumbull Union Vernon Voluntown Wallingford Warren Washington Waterbury Waterford Watertown West Hartford West Haven Westbrook Weston Westport Wethersfield Willington Wilton Winchester Windham Windsor Windsor Locks Wolcott Woodbridge Woodbury Woodstock Places Boroughs Villages Historic Places Geography Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boston ( capital ) Topics Index Administrative divisions Congressional districts Elections Geography Geology Government History Images Law Music People State symbols Transportation Villages Tourist attractions Windmills Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports Regions The Berkshires Blackstone Valley Cape Ann Cape Cod Central Massachusetts Greater Boston The Islands Merrimack Valley MetroWest Montachusett - North County North Shore Pioneer Valley Quabbin - Swift River Valley South Coast South County South Shore Southeastern Massachusetts Western Massachusetts Counties Barnstable Berkshire Bristol Dukes Essex Franklin Hampden Hampshire Middlesex Nantucket Norfolk Plymouth Suffolk Worcester Cities Agawam Amesbury Attleboro Barnstable Beverly Boston Braintree Bridgewater Brockton Cambridge Chelsea Chicopee East Longmeadow Easthampton Everett Fall River Fitchburg Franklin Gardner Gloucester Greenfield Haverhill Holyoke Lawrence Leominster Lowell Lynn Malden Marlborough Medford Melrose Methuen New Bedford Newburyport Newton North Adams Northampton Palmer Peabody Pittsfield Quincy Randolph Revere Salem Somerville Southbridge Springfield Taunton Waltham Watertown Westfield West Springfield Weymouth Winthrop Woburn Worcester Note : Municipalities not listed have a town meeting form of government ( see all municipalities ) Mountains of Massachusetts The Berkshires Hoosac Range Crum Hill Others Bakke Mountain Borden Mountain Crum Hill Massaemett Mountain Monument Mountain Pocumtuck Mountain Tekoa Mountain Holyoke Range Bare Mountain Long Mountain Mount Hitchcock Mount Holyoke Mount Norwottuck Round Mountain Seven Sisters Metacomet Ridge Bare Mountain Crag Mountain East Mountain Farley Ledges Mount Grace Mount Hitchcock Mount Holyoke Mount Lincoln Mount Nonotuck Mount Norwottuck Mount Orient Mount Toby Mount Tom Northfield Mountain Pine Cobble Mountain Provin Mountain Round Mountain Seven Sisters Sugarloaf Mountain Mount Tom Range Mount Nonotuck Mount Tom Pocumtuck Range Sugarloaf Mountain Taconic Mountains Alander Mountain Berlin Mountain Berry Hill Berry Mountain Brodie Mountain Doll Mountain Holy Mount Honwee Mountain Misery Mountain Mount Everett Mount Fitch Mount Fray Mount Frissell Mount Greylock Mount Race Mount Raimer Mount Williams Pine Mountain Poppy Mountain Potter Mountain Round Mountain Rounds Mountain Saddle Ball Mountain Shaker Mountain Smith Mountain Tower Mountain White Rock Wapack Range Mount Watatic Others Faggot Hill Great Blue Hill Little Tom Mountain Mount Institute Mount Jefferson Mount Pisgah Mount Wachusett Peaked Mountain Pine Hill Tully Mountain Waitt 's Mountain Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Berkshires&oldid=799193799 '' Categories : Berkshires Subranges of the Appalachian Mountains Mountain ranges of Connecticut Mountain ranges of Massachusetts Landforms of Litchfield County, Connecticut Landforms of Berkshire County, Massachusetts Regions of Connecticut Regions of Massachusetts Tourist attractions in Litchfield County, Connecticut Tourist attractions in Berkshire County, Massachusetts Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Articles needing additional references from December 2008 All articles needing additional references Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Deutsch Español Français Italiano Русский Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 6 September 2017, at 06 : 19. 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Question: where are the berkshire hills located in massachusetts
Answer: the western parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut