Loon Island facts for kids
 Loon Island
Location in New York
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Canadarago Lake |
| Coordinates | 42°49′43.438″N 75°00′7.5″W / 42.82873278°N 75.002083°W |
| Administration | |
 United States |
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| State |  New York |
| County | Otsego |
| Town | Richfield |
Loon Island is a small island that used to be in Canadarago Lake in Otsego County, New York, United States. It completely sank underwater in the early 1800s. Today, it is known as a "sunken island" because you can no longer see it above the water.
What Was Loon Island Like?
Loon Island was much smaller than Deowongo Island, which is still visible in the lake. Loon Island was only about half an acre in size. That's roughly the size of half a football field.
The southern part of the island was quite wet and swampy. But the northern end, which faced Richfield Springs, had trees and other plants growing on it.
How Did Loon Island Sink?
Scientists have a theory about how Loon Island disappeared underwater. It might have happened in 1816, a year often called "the year without a summer." This year was famous for its very cold weather and strange seasons.
The Ice Theory
The theory suggests that in 1816, there was an early spring thaw. This means the ice on the lake melted earlier than usual. Streams flowing into Canadarago Lake were full of water. This water covered the lake's ice.
Then, a strong north wind pushed the large sheets of ice towards the southern part of the lake. Soon after, the weather turned very cold again, and the lake froze solid.
When the winds changed and blew from the south, the even larger ice pack was pushed back in the opposite direction. This back-and-forth movement of the ice acted like a giant saw. It scraped away the top layer of soil from Loon Island. It also knocked down all the trees and plants.
Since that time, Loon Island has remained completely underwater.
