Honeoye Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Honeoye Lake |
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Honeoye Lake as viewed from the Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, October 2013.
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 Honeoye Lake
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Honeoye Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ontario County, New York |
| Group | Finger Lakes |
| Coordinates | 42°45′N 77°30.7′W / 42.750°N 77.5117°W |
| Type | Ground moraine |
| Primary inflows | Honeoye Inlet, Bray Gully, Briggs Gully |
| Primary outflows | Honeoye Creek |
| Catchment area | 36.7 sq mi (95 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) |
| Max. width | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) |
| Surface area | 1,772 acres (717 ha) |
| Average depth | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Max. depth | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Water volume | .0086 cu mi (0.036 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 9.6 miles (15.4 km) |
| Surface elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Settlements | Honeoye, Richmond, Canadice |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Honeoye Lake (pronounced HUN-ee-oy) is one of the beautiful Finger Lakes in Ontario County, New York. Most of the lake is in the town of Richmond. A smaller part is in the town of Canadice. The small community of Honeoye is just north of the lake.
The name Honeoye comes from the Seneca word ha-ne-a-yah. This means lying finger, or where the finger lies. The name comes from an old local story. It tells of a Native American whose finger was bitten by a rattlesnake. He then cut off his finger with a tomahawk.
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About Honeoye Lake
Honeoye Lake is the second smallest of the Finger Lakes. It is located to the west of the larger Finger Lakes. To its west are other smaller lakes like Canadice Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Conesus Lake. Like the other Finger Lakes, Honeoye Lake was formed a long time ago. Huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, moved across the land. When they melted, they left behind these lakes.
The lake's surface is 804 feet (245 m) above sea level. It is long and narrow, running mostly north to south. Its surface area is about 1,772 acres (7.17 km2). Honeoye Lake is also quite shallow and warmer than the other Finger Lakes. Its water flows out into Honeoye Creek, which goes northward. A main stream, called Honeoye Inlet, flows into the lake at its south end.
The community of Honeoye is at the north end of the lake. There's an area called the Times-Union Tract just south of Honeoye. It has many summer cottages and homes.
Fun Activities at Honeoye Lake
The lake's shore has many homes used for vacations. Many of these homes have docks for boats and other fun water vehicles. When the weather is warm, fishing in Honeoye Lake is excellent. You can find fish like walleye, bass, perch, and bluegill. People also enjoy boating, tubing, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
Every year on Labor Day weekend, people celebrate the "Ring of Fire." Flares are lit all around the lake's edge. This tradition marks the end of summer. It also celebrates the rich harvest from the Finger Lakes region. In winter, the lake freezes over quickly. It stays frozen all season. Then, people use the lake for ice fishing, skating, and ice boating.
Public Parks and Access
At the north end of the lake is Sandy Bottom Park. This park has a beach with a lifeguard. It also has two playgrounds and several picnic areas. There is a boat launch here too. It is open from May 15 until Labor Day.
Honeoye Lake Boat Launch State Park is on the east side of the lake, towards the south end. It is open from May to November. The Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area is located on Canadice Hill, south of the lake. From here, you can see a great view overlooking Honeoye Lake.
Lake Health and Environment
In recent years, the lake has faced some environmental challenges. These include the wearing away of the shoreline from boats. There have also been blooms of blue-green algae. These algae can sometimes affect water quality.
