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The Catskills contain more than thirty peaks above 3,500 feet and parts of six important rivers. The highest mountain, Slide Mountain in Ulster County, has an altitude of 4,180 feet (1,274 m).
Within the mountain range is the Catskill Park and Catskill Forest Reserve. Not all the land is publicly owned; about 60% remains in private hands, but new sections are added frequently. Most of the park and the reserve are within Ulster County.
This is a traditional vacation land with many summer resorts and camp grounds. During the first part of the 20th century, many ethnic groups (Germans, Czechs, Jews, etc) established summer resorts in the Catskills that catered to their needs. The " Borscht Belt" was a collection of Jewish resorts (Brown's, Grossinger's, etc) in this region, where many comics got a start in show business. This ethnic tradition has mostly disappeared, although some special groups maintain private resorts. Many of these resorts now attempt to remain open all year and cater to winter activities such as skiing.
The Catskills figure in Washington IrvingWashington Irving ( April 3, 1783 November 28, 1859) was an American author of the early 19th century. He was born in New York City. A lawyer, he served as American ambassador to Britain and later to Spain. He spoke Spanish. He was a prolific essayist who's story, Rip van WinkleRip van Winkle is a short story by Washington Irving, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. The story, written while Irving was staying with his sister in Birmingham, England, is set in the days before and after the American Revolution.