Portal Entry Essay: The Adirondacks

The history of the Adirondack Park in Upstate New York is a prime example of people taking responsibility for their actions. Companies exploited the forest for many years. The state recognized the importance of the Adirondacks, thus establishing a strict forest protection Act. Now the Adirondacks are being affected by climate change.
I live in Upstate New York on the northern border of the Adirondack Park. The Adirondacks have always been part of my life, from my childhood summers canoe camping on the lakes, to hiking and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains. I wanted my portals to revolve around something I had a personal connection to. I chose my three entries mainly based on my previous knowledge. I knew the Adirondacks had been clear-cut long ago and that resulted in a protection act to preserve the area. I had considered looking at when the Park officially became a state park. I also …show more content…
Habitat loss seems to be a common consequence of human interference with the planet. The Dust Bowl created conditions that even humans didn’t want to endure and moved away. Dams create migration barriers for many aquatic species and can separate habitats. The articles we read about mines discussed the waste of rare earth mining. Places such as Baotou, Mongolia have toxic lakes and soils due to industrial mining. (Maughan)
The Adirondacks are being affected by Global warming. So are many cities, such as Yangtze River in China. In the Adirondacks, companies are going out of business due to warmer winters and less tourists. On the Yangtze, there are towns close to the river’s edge. These residents are going to be forced to move in the not too distant future. Some have already left, and some are holding on until the last possible second (Chang). Although both places are being affected in very different ways, both places are heavily feeling the impact of climate