Conesus Lake

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Conesus Lake
The east shore, seen from Long Point Park
Location	Finger Lakes, New York
Coordinates	42°46′47″N, 77°43′00″WCoordinates: 42°46′47″N, 77°43′00″W
Lake type	Ground Moraine
Basin countries	United States
Max. width	8 mi (13 km)
Max. depth	66 ft (20 m)
Frozen	Winter
Islands	none

An aerial view of Conesus Lake

Conesus Lake is one of the minor Finger Lakes in western New York. It is located at the western end of the Finger Lake Region. The lake is in Lakeville, New York a Village near Livonia, New York in Livingston County, south of Rochester, New York. It is located off Interstate 390 (exit 9), about 15 miles south of Interstate 90.

Conesus Lake is eight miles (13 kilometers) long. Conesus Lake Boat Launch is a state park at the east shore, near the village of Livonia. Conesus Lake's maximum depth is 66 feet (20 meters).

The lake is the first outside the contiguous Great Lakes waterways to be stricken with a new strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), an infectious fish disease responsible for mass die-offs of many species, but not linked to any human health concerns.^[1] The disease is spread between waterways through live or frozen bait fish, roe, contaminated fishing equipment or live water wells in boats, and ballast water.

Some notable areas around Conesus Lake:

The Conesus Inn
Camp Stella Maris: A summer camp that offers a number of residential and day camping programs in the summer. Winter programs are offered as well. Counselors are often young adults from the area.
Minnehan's: Located just above the north end of the lake, Minnehan's is a restaurant that includes games such as a miniature golf course, a go-kart track, batting cages, and an arcade.
The Beachcomber: A restaurant located on the western shore of the lake. Tables are available indoors and outdoors, and the restaurant has a dock where boat owners can tie up.
Vitale Park: On the northern end of Conesus Lake, this park has a shallow sand-filled swimming area where boats can drop anchor and jump out and swim in the shallow water. There is also a playground, and there is usually some type of concert on Sunday evenings.

Fireworks during the Ring of Fire. The red lights at the bottom are flares.

Every July 3, the residents of the lake participate in a tradition called the Ring of Fire. They light road flares all around the lake and shoot off fireworks. The festivities typically last from 9:30 to 10:30 P.M.

Conesus Lake also has two marinas on the eastern side of the lake, Jansen Marina and Leisure Time Marina.

When frozen over in the winter, Conesus Lake is used for snowmobiling and ice fishing.