Oseetah Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oseetah Lake |
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McKenzie Mountain from the lake
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 Oseetah Lake
Location in New York
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| Location | Adirondack State Park, Franklin / Essex counties, New York, US |
| Coordinates | 44°16′55″N 74°8′8″W / 44.28194°N 74.13556°W |
| Primary inflows | Saranac River |
| Primary outflows | Saranac River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 826 acres (3.34 km2) |
| Average depth | 3 ft (0.91 m) |
Oseetah Lake is a beautiful lake in New York State's Adirondack Park. It covers about 826-acre (3.34 km2) of water. The lake is about two and a half miles (4.0 km) south of the village of Saranac Lake. You can find it along the Saranac River. Most of Oseetah Lake is in the town of Harrietstown. A small part of it reaches into the town of North Elba.
Contents
About Oseetah Lake
The Saranac River flows into Oseetah Lake from Lower Saranac Lake. It then leaves Oseetah Lake at its northern end. From there, the river continues towards Lake Flower and the village of Saranac Lake. Another lake, Kiwassa Lake, also feeds water into Oseetah Lake.
There are several islands in Oseetah Lake. Some of the main ones include Wayotah, Wapiti, Watch, Haven of Rest, Papoose, and Birch. Most of the land around the lake is owned by private individuals.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Oseetah Lake is a popular spot for paddling. It is part of the famous Adirondack Canoe Classic. This event is also known as the "Ninety-miler" because of its long distance. The lake is also on the route of the 740-mile (1,190 km) Northern Forest Canoe Trail. This long trail stretches all the way from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine.
History of the Lake
The Legend of Oseetah
There's a special legend about how Oseetah Lake got its name. The story says that Oseetah was an Indian Princess. She was in love with a chief named Wayotah. But when she learned he was going to marry someone else, she was very sad. The legend says she jumped off a cliff into a lake. Then, she magically turned into a water lily. In the Huron language, the name Oseetah means "Water Lily."
How the Lake Was Formed
Oseetah Lake was not always this big. It was first known as Miller Pond. In 1894, a dam was built across the Saranac River near Saranac Lake. This dam helped create Lake Flower and also made Miller Pond much larger. The dam was built by the Saranac Light and Power Company. They used it to create electricity. Later, in 1904, Paul Smith bought the company.
When the dam raised the water level, a smaller pond called Ray Pond also became part of the new, bigger Oseetah Lake. This happened in the eastern part of the lake, near the border of Essex County.
Images for kids
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Looking south across Oseetah Lake toward the Sawtooth Mountains.
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A beautiful sunset over Oseetah Lake.
