Saranac River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saranac River |
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Location of the mouth of the Saranac River
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| Other name(s) | Riviere Serindac |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Adirondack Mountains |
| Counties | Clinton, Essex, Franklin |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Upper Saranac Lake East of Wawbeek 1,572 ft (479 m) 44°15′53″N 74°14′36″W / 44.26472°N 74.24333°W |
| River mouth | Lake Champlain City of Plattsburgh 95 ft (29 m) 44°41′59″N 73°26′45″W / 44.69972°N 73.44583°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Saranac River is a river in New York State, USA. It is about 81-mile-long (130 km). The river starts in the Adirondack Mountains and flows northeast. It finally empties into Lake Champlain near the City of Plattsburgh.
The upper part of the river has many calm areas and lakes. More than 36 lakes and ponds feed into the river. The highest one is Mountain Pond. As the river gets closer to Lake Champlain, it drops a lot in height. This creates exciting rapids. These rapids make the Saranac River a popular spot for whitewater kayaking and canoeing.
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Lakes and Ponds Along the River
The Saranac River connects many beautiful lakes and ponds. These include Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes. Other important water bodies are Oseetah Lake, Lake Flower, Franklin Falls Pond, and Union Falls Pond.
The river also flows through the village of Saranac Lake. There are special gates called locks between some of the lakes. For example, there are locks between Middle and Lower Saranac Lakes. These locks help boats move between different water levels. Even though the water level changes are small, the locks make it easier for boats to travel.
Fun Activities on the Saranac River
The Saranac River is a great place for outdoor adventures. Many people enjoy paddling here. It is part of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. This long trail starts in Old Forge, NY and ends in Fort Kent, ME.
Fishing in the River
The Saranac River is home to many different types of fish. If you like fishing, you might catch a northern pike or a largemouth bass. Other fish found here include smallmouth bass, rock bass, and pumpkinseed. You can also find fallfish, brown bullhead, brown trout, and even landlocked atlantic salmon.
What Does "Saranac" Mean?
The name "Saranac" comes from the Abenaki language. The Abenaki are a Native American people. Their word for the river is zalônák:tégw. This word means "staghorn sumac cone river." Staghorn sumac is a type of plant.
Over time, the river has had other names too. Some of these include Riviere Saint Amant, Riviere Saint Arnont, Riviere Salasanac, Sal-a-sa-nac, and Salasance.
Images for kids
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Franklin Falls in the Spring
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A small island in Middle Saranac Lake, Stony Creek Mountain behind
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The river passes through Saranac Lake
