Moggy Hollow Natural Area
Encyclopedia
The Moggy Hollow Natural Area is a 14 acres (5.7 ha) nature preserve near Far Hills
, Somerset County
, New Jersey
. As the Wisconsin Glacier advanced, Glacial Lake Passaic
formed eventually rising until it found an outlet at Moggy Hollow, draining to the Raritan River
. It was designated a National Natural Landmark
in January 1970.
ic rock at 331 feet (100.9 m) above sea level served as a spillway for Lake Passaic carving a deep ravine out of the softer soil as the lake drained. Even as the glacier retreated, Moggy Hollow remained the main outlet due to debris left at Millburn until Little Falls
and Paterson
emerged from the ice. There were several post glacial lakes which formed above Moggy Hollow, bringing the ledge to its current height.
. Visitors can either ask to cross the Buck garden to reach the lower portion of the ravine, or park above on Liberty Corner Road to access the top of the ledge. Portions of the hollow are steep and dangerous.
Far Hills, New Jersey
Far Hills is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 919.Far Hills was incorporated as a borough based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 7, 1921, from portions of Bernards Township, subject to the results...
, Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. As the Wisconsin Glacier advanced, Glacial Lake Passaic
Glacial Lake Passaic
Glacial Lake Passaic was a prehistoric proglacial lake that existed in northern New Jersey in the United States at the end of the last ice age approximately 19,000-14,000 years ago...
formed eventually rising until it found an outlet at Moggy Hollow, draining to the Raritan River
Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
. It was designated a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
in January 1970.
Geology
The Wisconsin glacier expanded and closed off lower height gaps to the north, forming Lake Passaic. As the lake continued to grow to a maximum depth around 240 feet (73.2 m), it found its outlet out of the basin at Moggy Hollow at the western edge of the lake. The ledge of harder basaltBasalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
ic rock at 331 feet (100.9 m) above sea level served as a spillway for Lake Passaic carving a deep ravine out of the softer soil as the lake drained. Even as the glacier retreated, Moggy Hollow remained the main outlet due to debris left at Millburn until Little Falls
Little Falls, New Jersey
Little Falls is a township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,855. It is located about from New York City....
and Paterson
Great Falls (Passaic River)
The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County in northern New Jersey in the United States. The Congress authorized its establishment as a National Historical Park in 2009...
emerged from the ice. There were several post glacial lakes which formed above Moggy Hollow, bringing the ledge to its current height.
History
The property is owned and managed by the Upper Raritan Watershed Association. Most of the current site was donated to the association on November 4, 1967 by J. Malcolm Belcher, a former mayor of Far Hills, on behalf of the Belcher family. The remainder of the site was acquired from Leonard J Buck.Visiting
The ravine is located adjacent to and above the Leonard J. Buck GardenLeonard J. Buck Garden
The Leonard J. Buck Garden is a public botanical garden operated by the Somerset County Park Commission, and located at 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, New Jersey. The garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the United States. It features native and exotic plants displayed in a naturalistic...
. Visitors can either ask to cross the Buck garden to reach the lower portion of the ravine, or park above on Liberty Corner Road to access the top of the ledge. Portions of the hollow are steep and dangerous.