Yes, upstate New York is in New York.

Upstate New York is most of New York State. Upstate New York is everything that is not New York City, its suburbs, or Long Island. Upstate New York includes the Catskill Mountains and the Adirondack Mountains; the Hudson River, the Mohawk River, and St. Lawrence River; Lake Champlain, the Finger Lakes region, and Niagara Falls. Upstate New York shares a 455 miles border with Canada.

Yes. On the west side of upstate New york

The Finger Lakes are located in upstate New York.

Yes.

No. Giovanni da Verrazano (Verrazzano) did not explore Upstate New York.