The Berkshires

The Berkshires are a branch of the Appalachian Mountains in Western Massachusetts. often referred 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 the Commonwealth that the Catskills do in New York and the Poconos do for Pennsylvania. With numerous trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail, large tracts of wilderness, and the non-profit Berkshire Botanical Garden and Hebert Arboretum, the Berkshires 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. The region is also home to numerous summer stock theatre festivals, such as the Williamstown Theatre Festival (Williamstown, MA), Berkshire Theatre Festival (Stockbridge, MA), Shakespeare and Company (Lenox, MA), and also hosts a regional dance company, Jacob's Pillow.