Greenwood Lake

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Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake -
Location New Jersey/New York
Coordinates 41.179461° N 74.329977° WCoordinates: 41.179461° N 74.329977° W
Lake type reservoir, natural lake
Basin countries United States
Surface area 1,920 acres (7.8 km²)
Surface elevation 623 ft (190 m)[1]
Islands Fox Island

Greenwood Lake is an interstate lake approximately seven miles (12 km) long, straddling the border of New Jersey and New York. It is located in West Milford, New Jersey (in Passaic County) and Greenwood Lake, New York (in Orange County).

The lake was originally called "Quampium" by the Munsee Native Americans who lived there. It was renamed "Long Pond" by Europeans, who settled the area as a farming community in the 1700s, and eventually came to be re-christened "Greenwood Lake." It was dammed up in 1837 to increase the size of the lake for water power downstream.[2]

The enlarged lake began to attract tourists. During its resort era, several steamboats operated on the lake, including the Greenwood Lake Transportation Company's "Arlington" and "Milford", and their side-wheeler, "Montclair", built in 1876, which had two decks and is reported to have been capable of carrying from 200 to 400 passengers.[2] These steamboats met the trains and took passengers to the various resorts around the lake in both states.

There is a seaplane area on the Lake, a few large marinas and lakeside restaurants with docks. Greenwood Lake Airport just south of the lake has a runway long enough to handle small jets.

There are numerous marinas and restaurants along Greenwood Lake.

Fisherman's House, Greenwood Lake (New Jersey) 1877 by Jasper Francis Cropsey
Fisherman's House, Greenwood Lake (New Jersey) 1877 by Jasper Francis Cropsey

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