The state of New York is acquiring the biggest chunk of land in the Adirondacks in more than a century.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday announced the acquisition of 69,000 acres of land that he said would preserve a significant portion of the Upper Hudson River watershed.
He said the $49.8 million purchase will be a boost to the state's tourism with new destinations for those who love watersports, hiking, hunting and snowmobiling. Cuomo says it will be the first time the lands have been open for public use in 150 years.
The land is being sold to the state over a five-year period by The Nature Conservancy. The conservancy bought a 161,000-acre timberland property in 2007, managing much of it with the intent to protect the land.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.