kids encyclopedia robot

Stillwater Reservoir facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir is located in New York Adirondack Park
Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Stillwater Reservoir is located in the United States
Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir
Location in the United States
Location Herkimer County, New York,
United States
Coordinates 43°54′45″N 74°57′16″W / 43.9126110°N 74.9544582°W / 43.9126110; -74.9544582, 43°53′26″N 75°01′21″W / 43.8906515°N 75.0224439°W / 43.8906515; -75.0224439
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows Beaver River, North Branch, Twitchell Creek, Gun Harbor Brook, West Branch Beaver River, South Branch
Primary outflows Beaver River
Basin countries United States
Surface area 6,233 acres (25.22 km2)
Max. depth 62 feet (19 m)
Shore length1 75 miles (121 km)
Surface elevation 1,680 feet (510 m)
Islands 97
Settlements Beaver River, New York, Stillwater, New York
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Stillwater Reservoir is a large man-made lake located in the Western Adirondacks of New York. It's near the small community of Beaver River, New York. This beautiful lake is a popular spot for many fun outdoor activities.

The lake's edges are mostly natural and undeveloped. This means you can find remote camping spots on its many islands and along the shoreline. If you want to camp or learn more about the lake, you can get information from the Forest Ranger Headquarters in the hamlet of Stillwater.

Fun Things to Do at Stillwater Reservoir

Stillwater Reservoir is a great place for outdoor adventures all year round!

Water Activities

  • Boating and Canoeing: You can explore the lake by boat or canoe. There's a public boat ramp on Stillwater Road, making it easy to launch your boat.
  • Fishing: The reservoir is home to many different kinds of fish. You might catch smallmouth bass, splake, rock bass, yellow perch, sunfish, or brown trout.

Land Activities

  • Camping: With many islands and undeveloped shorelines, Stillwater Reservoir offers lots of places to set up a tent and enjoy nature. Some islands even have special primitive campsites.
  • Hunting: In certain seasons, hunting is allowed in designated areas around the reservoir.
  • Snowmobiling and Cross-Country Skiing: When winter arrives and the lake freezes, it becomes a perfect place for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing adventures.

Interesting Facts About Stillwater Reservoir

Stillwater Reservoir holds a special place in New York's history for its weather.

  • Record Cold: The coldest temperature ever recorded in New York State was at Stillwater Reservoir. It was a super chilly −52 °F (−47 °C)! This record was later matched by Old Forge on February 17, 1979.

Islands of Stillwater Reservoir

Stillwater Reservoir is known for having many islands, 97 in total! Many of these islands offer great spots for camping and exploring. Here are a few of the notable islands and locations:

  • Big Burnt Lake: This is a lake connected to Stillwater Reservoir. It's located northwest of the community of Beaver River.
  • Georges Island: You can find this island near the Tower Trail campsite.
  • Rock Island: This island is located close to where Twitchell Creek flows into the reservoir.
  • Island #2: Also near Twitchell Creek, this island has two primitive campsites for adventurers.
  • Melody Island: Located near a spot called Devil's Hole, Melody Island also has a primitive campsite.
  • Long Island: This island is quite large and has two primitive campsites, one on each end.
  • Gun Harbor: This is a bay located north-northeast of the Beaver River community, a great spot to explore by boat.
  • Picnic Island: As its name suggests, this island is a popular spot for picnics and has two primitive campsites.
  • Trout Pond: This is a bay where water from Salmon Lake enters the reservoir.
  • Loon Island: Located in the Loon Lake section of the reservoir, this island has a primitive campsite.
  • Fox Island: You can find this island near the outlet of Halfway Brook, and it also has a primitive campsite.

These are just some of the many islands and interesting spots you can discover at Stillwater Reservoir!

kids search engine
Stillwater Reservoir Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.