Summit Lake (Springfield, Otsego County, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Summit Lake |
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 Summit Lake
Location in New York
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| Location | Otsego County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°51′39″N 74°50′56″W / 42.8609143°N 74.8488831°W |
| Primary inflows | Hayden Creek |
| Primary outflows | Hayden Creek |
| Surface area | 63 acres (25 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 1,348 feet (411 m) |
| Settlements | Springfield Center |
Summit Lake is a small lake located in Otsego County, New York. You can find it northeast of Springfield Center. Summit Lake is quite special because its water flows in two different directions! Some water drains south into Otsego Lake through Hayden Creek. Other water flows north toward the Mohawk River. In this lake, you might spot fish like largemouth bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, and yellow perch.
How Summit Lake's Water Flows
Summit Lake has a unique way of draining its water. There's a hidden passage deep under the northern part of the lake. This passage helps water flow underground in a different direction. It shows that there's a secret underground boundary that sends water north.
Water leaves Summit Lake through streams that flow in two main directions. Some streams go north toward the Mohawk River. Other streams flow south toward Otsego Lake.
The Disappearing Stream and Cold Spring
Slightly northwest of Summit Lake, there's a stream that seems to vanish into the ground! This is called a "disappearing stream."
The lake also gets fresh water from a special place called Summit Lake spring, also known as the cold spring. This spring feeds a small stream that flows into the east side of the lake. Scientists estimate that this spring adds about 10 gallons of water to the lake every minute!
