Winnisook Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winnisook Lake |
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From northeast corner
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 Winnisook Lake
Location in New York
Winnisook Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ulster County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°00′52″N 74°24′45″W / 42.01444°N 74.41250°W |
| Type | Artificial |
| Primary outflows | Esopus Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 5 acres (0.0078 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 2,664 feet (812 m) |
Winnisook Lake is a special lake located in Oliverea, New York. It's not a natural lake; people created it! This makes it an artificial lake. It's super important because it's where the Esopus Creek starts its journey. Winnisook Lake is also the highest lake in the amazing Catskill Mountains, sitting high up at about 2,664 feet (812 meters) above sea level.
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Exploring Winnisook Lake
A Lake Built for Fun
Winnisook Lake is owned by a private group called the Winnisook Club. They made the lake bigger by building a dam. Why? So they would have a great place to go fishing!
In the past, this private lake caused some problems. Many hikers wanted to reach Slide Mountain, which is the highest peak in the Catskills. They would park their cars along Ulster County Route 47. Then, they would walk across the club's private land to get to the state-owned Forest Preserve and start their climb.
Solving the Hiking Puzzle
More and more hikers came in the 1970s. This made the Winnisook Club think about closing their land to hikers. This path had been one of the easiest ways to climb Slide Mountain for a long time.
Luckily, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) stepped in to help. In the early 1980s, the DEC bought some land south of the club's property. They then built a brand new trail for hikers. This new trail gave everyone a way to reach Slide Mountain without crossing private land.
A High Road and an Old Name
The part of Route 47 that runs next to Winnisook Lake is very special. It's the highest paved public road in all of New York State! Imagine driving on a road that high up.
The name "Winnisook" is also interesting. It's one of the few Native American place names you'll find in the Catskills. The name comes from a legendary figure named Winnisook. This same legend also gave names to the nearby small town of Big Indian and Big Indian Mountain.
