Saratoga Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saratoga Lake |
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Saratoga Lake from the southwest with a view of Snake Hill
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 Saratoga Lake
Location in New York
Saratoga Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Saratoga County, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°01′12″N 73°44′24″W / 43.020°N 73.740°W |
| Primary inflows | Kayaderosseras Creek |
| Primary outflows | Fish Creek |
| Catchment area | 244 sq mi (630 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Surface area | 6.3 sq mi (16 km2) |
| Average depth | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Water volume | 33×109 US gal (120×106 m3) |
| Residence time | 5 months |
| Shore length1 | 23 mi (37 km) |
| Surface elevation | 200 feet (61 m) |
| Frozen | usually unfreezes mid-late March or early-mid April |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Saratoga Lake is a beautiful lake in the eastern part of Saratoga County, New York. It's a popular spot for many activities like fishing, boating, and rowing. The lake is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide at its widest point. It can be as deep as 95 feet (29 m).
The lake is surrounded by several towns. To the northwest is the City of Saratoga Springs. The Town of Malta is to the southwest. To the southeast is the Town of Stillwater, and to the northeast is the Town of Saratoga. A road called New York State Route 9P runs along the southern and eastern sides of the lake.
The main water source for Saratoga Lake is the Kayaderosseras Creek, which flows in from the northwest. The water then leaves the lake through Fish Creek, which flows north into the Hudson River near Schuylerville.
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Fishing in Saratoga Lake
Saratoga Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. If you enjoy fishing, you might catch walleye, smallmouth bass, black crappie, or yellow perch. Other fish found here include redbreast sunfish, bluegill, northern pike, and tiger muskie. You might also find largemouth bass, carp, pumpkinseed sunfish, and brown bullhead.
There's a public boat launch on the north shore of the lake. It's a great place to put your boat in the water for a day of fishing.
History of Saratoga Lake
The name Saratoga comes from a Native American word, Se-rach-ta-gue. It is thought to mean "hillside country of the great river," but there are other ideas about what it might mean.
People have lived around Saratoga Lake for a very long time. Archeologists have found signs that Native Americans were here as far back as 7000 BC.
The first European person to visit the lake might have been a Jesuit missionary named Isaac Jogues in 1642. There is a chapel on the lake in Stillwater that remembers his visit.
Rowing on the Lake
The sport of rowing has a long and exciting history on Saratoga Lake, especially along Fish Creek. In July 1874, a big college rowing competition was held here. Teams from many famous universities, like Columbia, Harvard, and Yale, competed. Columbia won that year in what was called "the most exciting race ever witnessed." These races continued for several years.
This tradition was brought back in 1986 with the first Head of the Fish Regatta. This event has grown a lot! By 2010, it had become the second largest regatta in the entire country, based on how many boats entered the race.
Places to Visit on Saratoga Lake
The north end of Saratoga Lake, near Fish Creek, has a public boat launch and many private places to dock boats. The middle and southern parts of the lake are less developed and more natural.
Here are some interesting places around Saratoga Lake:
- Brown's Beach - Located in Stillwater. It's a public beach where you can swim and relax. There's also a restaurant and a place to stay overnight.
- Salvi Aquatic Boat Rentals - You can rent boats here on the north side of the lake.
- Lees Park Campground - This is a place where you can camp with an RV. It also has a marina for boats.
- Crum's Place - This used to be a restaurant in Malta. It was owned by George Crum, who is said to have invented the potato chip!
- Fish Creek - This area in Saratoga has a public boat launch.
- Fish Creek Marina - Also in Saratoga, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards here.
- Kaydeross Park - This used to be a fun park in Saratoga Springs, but it is now closed.
- Moon's Lake House - This old building in Saratoga Springs is no longer there. It's another place where George Crum supposedly invented potato chips.
- Riley's Cove (also called Chinatown) - Found in Malta.
- Saratoga Lake Sailing Club - Located in Manning's Cove, Malta. This is a club for people who love to sail.
- Saratoga Lake Motel - A place to stay in Saratoga.
- Snake Hill - This is a rocky area on the east side of the lake in Stillwater. It got its name because timber rattlesnakes used to live there. They are no longer found there.
- South Shore Marina - Located in Malta.
- White Sulphur Spring hotel - This hotel in Stillwater is no longer standing.
