Berkshires

The Berkshires (locally ) are highlands located in western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut in the United States. Generally, "Berkshires" may refer to the range of hills in Massachusetts that lie between the Housatonic and Connecticut Rivers. Highlands of northwest Connecticut may be seen as part of the Berkshires and sometimes called the Northwest Hills or Litchfield Hills. The segment of the Taconic Mountains in Massachusetts and New York is often considered a part of the Berkshires and considered part of the cultural region, although they are geologically separate and are a comparatively narrow range along New York's eastern border. Also referred to as the Berkshire Highlands, Berkshire Hills, Berkshire Mountains, and Berkshire Plateau, the region enjoys a vibrant tourism industry based on music, arts, and recreation. Geologically, the mountains are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. Until 1933, the region was served by the Berkshire Street Railway, which once connected most cities and towns of the region to Springfield and all three neighboring states. The Berkshires were named among the 12 Last Great Places by The Nature Conservancy.