As we all know, most of Long Island is flat as a pancake. Most of the features of its topography are related to the remains of last glacier in the area, approximately 22,000 years ago.
As described by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), the glacier left two lines of hills- the Harbor Hill Moraine and the Ronkonkoma Moraine.
The glacier also left an open question: Where is the highest peak on Long Island- Harbor Hill in East Hills or Jaynes Hill in Huntington?
This question has been debated for almost 150 years. In 1875, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reviewed the scientific findings of the day and determined “we must consider the hill at Roslyn as the highest of the island.”
Alas, modern technology indicates that Harbor Hill is a close second in height to Jaynes Hill (AKA High Hill) in Huntington. The results are confirmed by a mountain-climbing website peakbagger.com that has a database of thousands of mountain and hill peaks.
Moreover, the heights of the two Long Island "peaks" were personally measured by Howard Kroplick using his IPhone App “My Altitude”.
Jaynes Hill (AKA High Hill), peak near the end of Reservoir Road, Huntington (Elevation: 401 feet). Claim to fame: Walt Whitman once walked here.
Marker near the peak.
Jaynes Hill details posted on peakbagger.com .
"My Altitude" App reading near the peak. Courtesy of Howard Kroplick.
Harbor Hill, peak near Ash Drive and Lufberry Drive, East Hills (365 feet). Claim to fame: The site of Clarence Mackay's Harbor Hill mansion.
Harbor Hill as seen from Hempstead Harbor Creek
Harbor Hill details posted on peakbagger.com.
"My Altitude" reading near the peak at Ash Drive and Lufberry Drive. Courtesy of Howard Kroplick.
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2 Comments
Highest point in FLa. is like 380 ft, somewhere near Talahasse flat state
Being a little curious, I found that Jayne’s Hill is higher than Florida’s highest elevation. So Florida is more of a pancake than our Long Island 😊