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Arts & Culture

The Adirondacks

The view from the shore of Heart Lake, a tranquil and relaxing spot near the Adirondack Mountain Club's "Adirondack Loj."
Amanda Bird
The view from the shore of Heart Lake, a tranquil and relaxing spot near the Adirondack Mountain Club's "Adirondack Loj."

Airs Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

The Adirondack Park sprawls across six million acres in Upstate New York. Bigger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier and Grand Canyon National Park combined, it is by far the largest park in the lower 48 states. Yet it is the only one on the continent in which large human populations live and whose land is divided almost evenly between protected wilderness and privately owned tracts. This patchwork pattern of land ownership has created an utterly unique place.

The story of the Adirondacks is told through a series of passionate characters, each with a distinct perspective. Through their stories "The Adirondacks" explores this remarkable region and reveals a delicate and dynamic relationship between progress and preservation.

Video Excerpt: The Adirondacks: Carl Heilman - Wilderness Photographer
Video Excerpt: The Adirondacks: Rafting The Hudson
Video Excerpt: The Adirondacks: Contested Terrain