Lamoka Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lamoka Lake |
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 Lamoka Lake
Location in New York
Lamoka Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Schuyler / Steuben counties, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°24′23″N 77°04′41″W / 42.40639°N 77.07806°W |
| Type | Alkaline |
| Primary inflows | Waneta Lake |
| Primary outflows | Mill Pond |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 824 acres (3.3 km2) |
| Max. depth | 47 ft (14 m) |
| Shore length1 | 11.3 miles (18.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,100 ft (340 m) |
| Islands | Red Bank Island, Weller Island |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lamoka Lake, once known as Mud Lake, is a small, curved lake in western New York state. It sits on the border of Schuyler County and Steuben County. Most of the lake is in Schuyler County. A small part, called "Mill Pond," is in Steuben County.
North of Lamoka Lake is Waneta Lake, which used to be called "Little Lake." These two lakes are connected by a short channel. Both Lamoka and Waneta Lakes are east of Keuka Lake, one of the famous Finger Lakes. However, they are not part of the Finger Lakes' water system. The Finger Lakes drain north towards the St. Lawrence River. Lamoka and Waneta Lakes, instead, drain south into Mill Pond, then Mud Creek, and finally into the Cohocton River. This river is part of the larger Susquehanna River system.
The area around Lamoka Lake is very important for archaeology. It is home to the Lamoka Site. This site provided the first clear proof of an ancient hunting and gathering culture in the Northeastern United States. This culture, from the Archaic period, lived here around 3500 BC. The Lamoka Site was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
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Fishing in Lamoka Lake
Lamoka Lake is a great spot for fishing! It is filled with many different kinds of fish. You can find several types of panfish here. There are public boat ramps available for both Lamoka Lake and Waneta Lake.
What Fish Can You Catch?
The lake is home to many fish species. These include:
- Pickerel
- Muskellunge
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Common sunfish
- Bluegill
- Rock bass
- Black crappie
- Yellow perch
- Brown bullhead
- Carp
You can access the lake through a concrete boat launch. This launch is located in the channel between Lamoka Lake and Waneta Lake. You can find it off County Route 23.
History of the Lamoka People
The Lamoka Culture was an ancient group of people. They lived during the late Archaic period. These people mainly survived by hunting and gathering food. The Lamoka People lived in central New York and northern Pennsylvania. They were here from about 3500 to 1300 BCE.
Discoveries at the Lamoka Site
Archaeological digs at the Lamoka Lake Site have taught us a lot. This site was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The digs showed that the Lamoka people lived in small houses for part of the year. The tools found there tell us that hunting and fishing were very important for them.
Geography of Lamoka Lake
Lamoka Lake is located at 42°24′23″N 77°04′41″W / 42.40639°N 77.07806°W. It is found in the Towns of Tyrone and Orange in Schuyler County. A part of it is also in Bradford in Steuben County. The lake is northeast of Bath and northwest of Watkins Glen.
New York State Route 226 runs close to the eastern shore of the lake.
Nearby Communities
Several communities are located around Lamoka Lake:
- Bradford, in the Town of Bradford
- Tyrone, in the Town of Tyrone
- Weston, also in the Town of Tyrone.
Lake Features
The surface of Lamoka Lake is 1,100 feet (335 meters) above sea level. The deepest part of the lake is about 40 feet (10 meters). The total surface area of the lake is 824 acres (3.3 km2). Its shoreline stretches for about eleven miles (18 kilometers). The water in the lake is slightly alkaline, meaning it's a bit basic.
