
Long before its discovery by French explorers, Onondaga Lake was the location of the Iroquois Confederacy of tribes agreement. The ‘Great Peacemaker’ brought together the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk Nations on the shores of Onondaga Lake. These warring…

Two little-known lakes in the Finger Lakes region of New York offer a geological mystery inviting the attention of scientists around the world. Green Lakes State Park holds small Green Lake and even smaller Round Lake. These two lakes are…

The Finger Lakes Region of New York is one of the nation’s favorite recreation and vacation destinations. The series of eleven long, narrow lakes are the result of ancient small lakes and stream valleys re-carved by the last glacier to…

Covering more than 51,000 acres, Oneida Lake is the largest lake located entirely within the state of New York. Named after the Iroquois Nation Oneida Tribe who lived in the area, Oneida Lake is about 21 miles long and more…

Glacier-carved Cazenovia Lake is the largest lake in Madison County, New York. Bordered by the Town of Cazenovia and the Village of Cazenovia, this residential lake is a popular tourist destination. Cazenovia Lake is located southeast of Syracuse on the…

Hemlock Lake, at just 7 miles long and a half mile wide, is one of New York’s smallest Finger Lakes, and one of two reserved for supplying water to the City of Rochester. The 1,800-acre reservoir is located in southeast…

Approximately 20 miles southwest of Syracuse, New York, Otisco Lake is the easternmost of the 11 Finger Lakes. Just under six miles long, 3/4 miles across at its widest point, and 60 feet deep at its deepest point, it is…

Honeoye Lake, one of New York state’s famous Finger Lakes, is located in beautiful Ontario County. Clean and pristine, this minor Finger Lake is the county’s blue jewel, providing residents and visitors with more than 1,700 acres of outdoor activity…
The smallest of New York’s famous Finger Lakes, Canadice Lake measures just 3 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. Its 640 acres are almost wholly undeveloped, making Canadice Lake appear as untouched as it did hundreds of years ago. As…

Livingston County, New York considers Conesus Lake to be its pride and joy, the jewel of the county. Indeed, this Finger Lake’s original Seneca name means “Always Beautiful,” and with emerald green shores and sapphire blue waters, Conesus Lake lives…

Lake Ontario, one of the world’s five Great Lakes, weaves over state and country borders, delighting Americans, Canadians, and visiting tourists with its deep, clear, clean waters. Proudly home to a staggering 4,700,000 acres (7,340 square miles), Lake Ontario is…

Owasco Lake is the sixth largest of the eleven Finger Lakes. Its name, from a Mohawk or Iroquois term, translates to “crossing.” The Finger Lakes were formed thousands of years ago by the region’s receding glaciers. Although Owasco Lake is…

Keuka Lake, nicknamed Lady of the Lakes for its vast natural beauty, boasts two unique characteristics that set it apart from its sister Finger Lakes: First, rather than being long and narrow, Keuka Lake is Y-shaped. This characteristic lends accounts…

Skaneateles Lake, pronounced “skany-atlas” or “skinny-atlas,” is one of New York’s famous Finger Lakes. Its name means “long lake” in one of the local Iroquois languages, and it reaches out over three counties: Cortland, Cayuga, and Onondaga. The lake sits…

Seneca Lake, one of western New York’s famous Finger Lakes, is the largest lake to be entirely contained within the borders of the state. Seneca Lake stretches out over a vast 43,343 acres and 38 long miles, with Watkins Glen…