New York Harbor Originate Science Project Idea

How the New York Harbor Originated Science Project Idea

Examine the outline map of the harbor:

Examine also the coast of North America from Chesapeake Bay northward:

Compare this coast line with the western coast line of South America:

There is evidence that the western coast line of South America is rising. Another fact to be noticed is that the Hudson River is very deep, permitting very large vessels to pass up its waters a considerable distance. Those of you who are acquainted with the river know that the tide extends 166 miles up the river to Troy above Albany.

How can we explain the shape and depth of the harbor, the depth of the river, and the fact that the surface of the water of the river is at sea level for over one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth?

Since the smooth coast line of western South America is known to be due to an elevation of the land, we might suspect that the very irregular coast line of eastern North America is due to a sinking of the land. If this is true will that account for the conditions of the New York harbor?

All evidence seems to point to the fact that New York harbor originated as did a great many good harbors by a sinking of the coast. This, of course, occurred many thousands of years ago in what we call prehistoric times.

From what we learn by studying the earth's crust we know that although we may think of the earth as the symbol of solidity, portions of the earth's surface have at times been raised and at other times depressed. The stratified sandstone, limestone, and salty rocks found over a great part of the country are evidences of the elevation of these portions of the continent, as these rocks are formed only at the bottom of the ocean.