The Coolest Place in the Hudson Valley is 600 Feet Underground

With the oppressive heatwave continuing in the Hudson Valley, many residents are looking for the best ways to cool down. While traditional options are available, the best spot might be deep under Orange County, NY.

There's been a flurry of activity in the Newburgh area in recent months. The city's new aquatic center offers what might be the most affordable family season pass in the state, and the town's massive new community center is nearing completion... but back to the underground tunnel.

The Longest Tunnel in the World is Underneath the Hudson Valley

600 feet below the Hudson Valley, the longest tunnel in the world is helping deliver drinking water to New York City. The 105-mile Delaware Aqueduct, which runs from the Catskill mountains to Yonkers, NY, is a stunning project that recently re-entered the news when a repair project was announced underneath Newburgh, NY.

Repairs on the Delaware Aqueduct in Newburgh, NY

The repair project centers on a bypass tunnel in Orange County, NY that will address leaks in the original tunnel. While work is paused until the fall, it turned out to be a "cool" place to host the nonprofit group Women in Tunneling (below) in the middle of the recent heat wave.

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A post shared by NYC Watershed (@nycwatershed)

Delaware Aqueduct Tour Perfectly Timed for Recent Heatwave

Women in Tunneling supports the growing gender diversity in what they describe as a "traditionally a male-dominated industry". While the visit was focused on the bypass tunnel project, the subterranean temperatures were certainly a bonus.

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"While temperatures soared above ground today, 600 feet below sea level, it was a comfortable 55 degrees", the NYC Watershed shared on social media. While the aqueduct is not open to the public, offering tours before the project is completed could be a roaring success, especially during heatwaves.