Raquette River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raquette River |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Raquette Lake Raquette Lake, New York |
| River mouth | Saint Lawrence River Hogansburg, New York 150 ft (46 m) 44°59′35″N 74°41′17″W / 44.99306°N 74.68806°W |
| Length | 146 mi (235 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,253 sq mi (3,250 km2) |
The Raquette River is a long and important river in New York State. It starts at Raquette Lake in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. The river flows for about 146 miles (235 km), making it the third longest river that is completely inside New York.
This river is a fantastic spot for outdoor activities like canoeing and kayaking. It flows through many natural and man-made lakes before it reaches its end at Akwesasne on the Saint Lawrence River.
Power from the River
The Raquette River is very useful for making electricity. It has 27 hydroelectric plants that use the river's flowing water to create power. These plants are run by a company called Brookfield Power. When they are working at full power, they can produce up to 181 megawatts of electricity. That's enough power for many homes and businesses!
A Historic Waterway
For a long time, the Raquette River was known as the "Highway of the Adirondacks." This meant people could travel for hundreds of miles using canoes or special guideboats. They would paddle along the river and lakes, and then carry their boats for short distances (called portage) to connect to other waterways.
Today, parts of this historic route are still used. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail follows some of the river's path. This trail is a huge 740-mile (1,190 km) canoe route that goes all the way from Old Forge in New York to Fort Kent in Maine.
The Raquette River is also famous for the Adirondack Canoe Classic. This is a three-day canoe race that covers 90 miles (145 km). It starts in Old Forge and finishes in Saranac Lake. It's a challenging and exciting event for canoe enthusiasts!
Towns Along the Raquette River
Many towns and villages are located along the Raquette River, from its start in the south to its end in the north. These communities have grown up around the river, using its water and enjoying its beauty.
- Blue Mountain Lake, New York (in Hamilton County)
- Long Lake (in Hamilton County)
- Tupper Lake (in Franklin County)
- Colton (in St. Lawrence County)
- Hannawa Falls (in St. Lawrence County)
- Potsdam (in St. Lawrence County)
- Norwood (in St. Lawrence County)
- Norfolk (in St. Lawrence County)
- Massena (in St. Lawrence County)
- Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne (or St. Regis Mohawk Reservation) (in Franklin County)
Images for kids
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The Raquette River at Sweeney Carry in 1888.
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Buttermilk Falls in Hamilton County, photographed in 1914.
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A view of the Raquette River in Colton, New York.
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