Galway Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Galway Lake |
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Location | Galway in Saratoga County, New York, United States |
Coordinates | 43°1′51.6″N 74°4′26.2″W / 43.031000°N 74.073944°W |
Surface area | 564 acres (228 ha) |
Galway Lake is a beautiful lake found west of Galway (village), New York. It is located in the town of Galway, which is part of Saratoga County in New York State, United States.
Contents
History of Galway Lake
Building the Lake
Galway Lake was first created in 1855. Its main purpose was to store water for the nearby City of Amsterdam. At that time, a company called the Amsterdam Water Works Company owned the lake.
The Galway Lake Dam
The lake was made larger by building the Galway Lake Dam. This dam is located on the North Chuctanunda Creek in Saratoga County. Long ago, the dam's power was used to run different mills and factories along the creek.
From Water Supply to Recreation
Today, Galway Lake is no longer used for water supply. It is now used only for fun activities like boating and swimming. The current Galway Lake Dam was finished in 1982. This happened after the Galway Lake Campers Association bought the lake from the Amsterdam Water Works Company for a very small price.
Lake Size and Activities
How Big is the Lake?
When the water levels are normal, Galway Lake covers an area of about 564 acres (228 ha). This is roughly the size of 425 football fields! When the water levels are lower, the lake's surface area is about 550 acres (220 ha).
Boating on the Lake
To protect the lake's environment, only certain types of boats are allowed. You can use boats powered by electric motors or sailboats. This helps keep the lake clean and quiet for everyone to enjoy.
Who Owns the Lake?
Galway Lake is owned by the Galway Lake Campers Association. This group helps manage and care for the lake for its members and visitors.
Lake Location Details
Finding Galway Lake on a Map
You can find Galway Lake using its latitude and longitude coordinates. These are like a special address for places on Earth. The coordinates for Galway Lake are N 43.02619 and W -74.08291.
Topographic Map Information
Galway Lake is shown right in the middle of a special map called a topographic map. This map comes from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and is part of the USGS Galway quad map series. Topographic maps show details about the land's shape, like hills and valleys.