Skaneateles Lake

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Skaneateles Lake
Skaneateles Lake
Coordinates	42°51′45″N, 76°22′22″W
Lake type	glacial
Basin countries	USA
Max-length	16 miles (25.8 km)
Max-width	1.5 miles (at Edgewater Park), average.75 mile (1.21 km)
Surface area	8,800 acres (35 km²)
Max-depth	315 feet (96 m)
Water volume	424 billion gallons
Residence time (of lake water)	18 years
Surface elevation	863.27 feet (263.12 m)
Settlements	Skaneateles, New York

Skaneateles Lake is one of the Finger Lakes in central New York in the United States. The name Skaneateles (pronunciation: "skany-atlas," preferred, or "skinny-atlas" common) means long lake in one of the local Iroquois languages. The lake is sometimes referred to as "The Roof Garden of the Lakes" because its altitude (863.27 feet) is higher than the other Finger Lakes. It is 16 miles (25.8 km) long (17 miles long including the bogs at the south end of the lake) and on average .75 mile (1.21 km) wide, with a surface area of 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²), and a maximum depth of 315 feet. . The water is so pure that the city of Syracuse and other municipalities use it unfiltered. William Henry Seward called it "The most beautiful body of water in the world."

The shores of Skaneateles Lake are in three counties: Onondaga, Cayuga, and Cortland. The village of Skaneateles (population about 2500) is at the northern end of the lake. Summer cottages appeared in 1881, increasing to more than 2000 residences around the lake in 2002. Generally new homes now are built for year-round occupancy rather than summer use. The transient and seasonal population of this tourist destination and summer resort surges during the warmer months. The lake is popular for recreational sailing. The Skaneateles Country Club is a boating center. There are few marinas or other commercial facilites on the lake shore. Glen Haven, at the foot of the lake, provides a marina and docking. Cruises are available from the village. Skaneateles is noted for its performing arts and amenities.

Landmarks and scenic features appear around the lake. Many historic buildings enhance the village of Skaneateles. Carpenter's Falls are in a nature preserve accessible to the public near New Hope on the west side of the lake, where the New Hope Mill likewise may be visited. The southern end of the lake, bounded by high hills (below, right) differs in character from the north. Glen Haven, a hamlet located there, once featured a large resort hotel but now offers smaller visitor accommodations and seasonal dining. On the west side, the high Town of Niles, New York provides scenic prospects. On the east side, the high Town of Spafford, New York offers panoramic views (above, right, and link below). Between these towns lies deep Glen Haven valley in the Town of Scott, New York, in the third county. A splendid framed vista from Glen Haven northward up Skaneateles Lake appears in the Scott, New York article, with views of other towns appearing their respective articles. The hamlet of Borodino in Spafford retains an 1830 church, little altered, in the Federal style.

Skaneateles Lake is separated from two other nearby Finger Lakes, Otisco and Owasco, by ridges some 600 feet above the waters, affording magnificent prospects on both sides. Much of the highland terrain is forested, with several large public preserves. Once more cultivated, this region was known for the teasel industry until 1930. Teasels were employed commercially by woolen mills to raise the nap on the material. Although some dairy farms remain in the highlands, occasionally remaining in the same family after many generations, much of the land no longer serves agriculture. There is some experimention with introduction of vinyards, which have proved so successful on the more western Finger Lakes. Skaneateles, however, the highest of all these lakes, may offer a less salubrious microclimate.