Skaneateles Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skaneateles Lake |
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 Skaneateles Lake
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Skaneateles Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Onondaga / Cayuga / Cortland counties, New York, United States |
| Group | Finger Lakes |
| Coordinates | 42°51′45″N 76°22′22″W / 42.86250°N 76.37278°W |
| Type | Ground moraine |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 16 miles (26 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) (at Edgewater Park) |
| Surface area | 8,800 acres (3,600 ha) |
| Average depth | 148 ft (45 m) |
| Max. depth | 315 ft (96 m) |
| Water volume | 0.385 cu mi (1.60 km3) |
| Residence time | 18 years |
| Surface elevation | 863.27 ft (263.12 m) |
| Settlements | Skaneateles, New York |
Skaneateles Lake ( SKAN-ee-AT-ləs SKIN--) is one of the beautiful Finger Lakes in central New York State, United States. The name Skaneateles means long lake in a local Native American language. People sometimes call it "The Roof Garden of the Lakes." This is because it sits higher than the other Finger Lakes, at about 863 ft (263 m) above sea level. It is known for being one of the cleanest lakes in the United States.
The lake is about 16 mi (26 km) long. If you include the marshy areas at its south end, it's about 17 mi (27 km) long. On average, it is 0.75 mi (1.21 km) wide. The surface of the lake covers about 13.6 sq mi (35 km2). At its deepest point, Skaneateles Lake is 315 ft (96 m) deep.
The water in Skaneateles Lake is so clean that the city of Syracuse and other towns use it without needing to filter it. Syracuse spends a lot of money each year to keep the lake water clean. They have people who check properties around the lake to make sure the water stays pure. Skaneateles Lake is considered the second cleanest lake in the U.S. when measuring dissolved nitrogen. Only Crater Lake in Oregon is cleaner.
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About Skaneateles Lake
The shores of Skaneateles Lake are located in three different counties: Onondaga, Cayuga, and Cortland. The small village of Skaneateles is found at the northern end of the lake. This village is in Onondaga County.
Many homes are built around the lake. In the past, these were mostly summer cottages. Now, many new homes are built for people to live in all year. This area is a popular place for tourists and summer visitors. Because of this, the number of people around the lake grows a lot during the warmer months.
Skaneateles Lake is separated from two other nearby Finger Lakes, Otisco Lake and Owasco Lake. High ridges, about 600 ft (180 m) above the water, stand between them. These ridges offer amazing views of the lakes on both sides. Much of the high land around the lake is covered in forests. There are also several large public nature areas.
Fun Places and Landmarks
Many interesting places and beautiful sights can be found around Skaneateles Lake. The village of Skaneateles has many historic buildings.
Carpenter Falls are located near the small town of New Hope. This is about one mile inland from the southwest side of the lake. The path down to the main waterfall is steep and can be dangerous. The falls are part of the Bahar Nature Preserve. This preserve follows Bear Swamp Creek all the way to the lake.
Across from Carpenter Point is Ten Mile Point. This is a favorite spot for picnics. The southern end of the lake looks different from the north. It is surrounded by high hills. Glen Haven, a small town there, used to have a big resort hotel. Now, it has smaller places for visitors to stay and restaurants that open seasonally.
On the west side of the lake, the high Town of Niles, New York offers great views. On the east side, the high Town of Spafford, New York also has wide, scenic views. Between these towns is the deep Glen Haven valley. This valley is in the Town of Scott, New York, which is in the third county. The small town of Borodino in Spafford has an old church from 1830. This church is still much the same as it was and was important in the movement to end slavery.
Boating and Recreation
Skaneateles Lake has been a popular place for sailing for a long time. Sailing races with boats from other lakes began here in 1847. The Skaneateles Country Club now has a special center for boating. Two types of racing sailboats, the Lightning and the Comet, were designed and built in Skaneateles.
There are not many marinas or other businesses right on the lake shore. This is because there are strict rules to protect the lake's water quality, as it supplies water to Syracuse. There is a public boat launch on the west side of the lake, just south of the Skaneateles Country Club marina. Another marina, the Skaneateles Marina, is about 6 mi (9.7 km) south of the Country Club. The town of Spafford also has a public boat launch near Borodino on the east side of the lake. Glen Haven, at the very end of the lake, also has a marina and places to dock boats.
You can take boat cruises from the village of Skaneateles. There is even a special mailboat that delivers mail to cottages along the lake. This boat also carries passengers who want to enjoy a ride on the lake.
Amazing Wildlife and Fish
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation listed thirteen types of fish that live in Skaneateles Lake in 2012. These fish include:
- rainbow trout
- lake trout
- lake whitefish
- landlocked salmon
- smallmouth bass
- cisco
- rock bass
- chain pickerel
- pumpkinseed
- yellow perch
- brown bullhead
- bluegill
- common carp
Lake trout reproduce naturally in the lake. About 20,000 rainbow trout and 9,000 landlocked salmon are added to the lake each year by wildlife officials.
In 2007, many bass in the lake died. Scientists later found out this was caused by a fish disease called viral hemorrhagic septicema (VHS). This virus has caused millions of fish to die in the Great Lakes since 2005. Skaneateles Lake was the second Finger Lake to have this virus. The first was Conesus Lake. The good news is that this virus is not harmful to humans. New York State is working to stop the virus from spreading to other lakes. They have new rules about bait fish to help with this. The VHS virus can spread through live or frozen bait fish, fish eggs, and water carried in boats. It is important to clean and disinfect boats and fishing gear before moving them from Skaneateles Lake to other bodies of water.
Keeping the Lake Clean
Skaneateles Lake is affected by different types of pollution. The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that pollution comes from farms, homes, and eroding streambanks.
- From farms: This includes things like pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste.
- From homes: This can come from septic systems, lawn care products, and construction sites.
- From streambanks: When soil washes away from the sides of streams, it can carry dirt and other materials into the lake.
These sources can bring things like dirt, nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus), pesticides, and tiny germs (like bacteria and viruses) into the water.
Skaneateles Lake is known as an oligotrophic lake. This means it has very low levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This is why the water is usually very clear and does not have much plant growth. However, in recent years, the water has become less clear. This is due to large outbreaks of algae, called algal blooms.
In 2013, people noticed a stiff, sticky foam on the lake. This foam had been increasing for years. It collects on the shorelines and in bays after strong winds. Scientists believe this foam comes from natural substances released when organic matter breaks down. This foam has also been seen on other nearby lakes.
In 2017, the lake had a widespread blue-green algal bloom. Tests showed that this bloom contained a toxin called microcystin. This event meant that the lake was no longer considered one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S.
