The Berkshires
Overview
The Berkshires are a branch of the Appalachian Mountains in Western Massachusetts. often refered to as the "Berkshire Hills," although Massachusetts residents frequently refer to them as mountains.
Geology
Over half a billion years ago Africa collided with Noth America, pushing up the Appalachian Mountains and forming the Taconic bedrock of the Berkshires. Erosion over hundreds of mllions of years wore these mountains down to the hills that we see today.
Ecology
Today efforts are being made on behalf of many organizations to preserve these mountains for human enjoyment. The Housatonic River is a popular area for trout fishing, and the area's relative pristineness contributes to the popularity of nature walks in the region.
Siteseeing
The Berkshires are a popular tourist attraction and vacation getaway, serving the same function in relation to MA that the Catskills do in New York and the Poconos do for Pennsylvania. With numerous trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail, and large tracts of wilderness, the Berkshire are popular for the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge Massachusetts are among the area's more famous tourist destinations. The more conventional Clark Museum of Art and the contemporary art museum MassMoCA are also commonly frequented attraction.
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| The Berkshires | Greater Boston | Cape Cod | North Shore | Pioneer Valley | South Shore | |
| Counties | |
| Barnstable | Berkshire | Bristol | Dukes | Essex | Franklin | Hampden | Hampshire | Middlesex | Nantucket | Norfolk | Plymouth | Suffolk | Worcester |