Big Moose Lake

{{Short description|Glacial lake in upstate New York, United States}}

{{Infobox body of water

|name = Big Moose Lake

|image = Big Moose_Lake_NY_USA.JPG

|caption = Big Moose Lake, as seen from its outlet

|image_bathymetry =

|caption_bathymetry =

|coords = {{Coord|43|49|01|N|74|51|17|W|region:US-NY_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}

|location = Webb and Long Lake Townships,
Herkimer and Hamilton Counties,
New York, U.S.

|type = Glacial

|inflow =

|outflow = North Branch Moose River

|catchment =

|pushpin_map = New York

|basin_countries = United States

|length = {{convert|3|mi|abbr=on}}

|width = {{convert|1|mi|abbr=on}}

|area = {{convert|1242|acre|km2|abbr=on}}

|depth = {{convert|23|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|max-depth = {{convert|85|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|residence_time =

|shore =

|elevation = {{convert|1824|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|islands = 2
Echo Island
Retter Island

|cities = Big Moose

}}

Big Moose Lake, at the head of the Moose River, is a large lake about {{convert|5|mi|spell=in|0}} north of Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The lake is within both Herkimer and Hamilton counties,{{cite GNIS|969881|Big Moose Lake|October 14, 2016}} and covers portions of the towns of Webb and Long Lake. Located southwest of the lake is the hamlet of Big Moose.{{cite GNIS|943929|Big Moose|October 14, 2016}}

The lake's popularity derives from its remoteness, climate and beauty. It was the scene of the murder of Grace Brown in 1906 by her boyfriend.

Geography and climate

Located in the central-western part of the Adirondack region, Big Moose Lake covers {{convert|1242|acre|km2}} in surface area.{{cite web |url=http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/bmoolkmap.pdf |title=Big Moose Lake Contour Map |publisher=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |access-date=October 14, 2016}} It is approximately {{convert|3|mi|spell=in}} long and almost {{convert|1|mi|spell=in}} wide, running in an east–west direction along its major axis.[https://web.archive.org/web/20040806073013/http://www.adirondacklakessurvey.org/monthly2.html Big Moose Lake], Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation. 2005. Last accessed September 2, 2006.{{dead link|date=October 2016}} The lake ranges in depth from {{convert|30|to|70|ft|0}} in its deepest parts, with an average depth of {{convert|23|ft|0}}.

=Climate=

In the summer, temperatures average from nightly lows of {{convert|45|°F|°C|abbr=on}} to daytime highs of {{convert|75|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. In winter, the lake completely freezes over, and temperatures during the day reach an average high of {{convert|20|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and an average nightly low of {{convert|5|°F|°C|abbr=on}}.[http://english.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KGTB&SafeCityName=Eagle_Bay&StateCode=NY&Units=none&IATA=UCA Average High/Low Temperatures for KGTB] Weather Underground. Last accessed September 2, 2006.

{{Weather box

|location = Big Moose, New York, 1991–2020 normals: 1760ft (536m)

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 59

|Feb record high F = 60

|Mar record high F = 78

|Apr record high F = 88

|May record high F = 91

|Jun record high F = 92

|Jul record high F = 92

|Aug record high F = 93

|Sep record high F = 95

|Oct record high F = 82

|Nov record high F = 69

|Dec record high F = 60

|Jan avg record high F = 49

|Feb avg record high F = 49

|Mar avg record high F = 60

|Apr avg record high F = 74

|May avg record high F = 84

|Jun avg record high F = 87

|Jul avg record high F = 88

|Aug avg record high F = 86

|Sep avg record high F = 84

|Oct avg record high F = 76

|Nov avg record high F = 63

|Dec avg record high F = 50

|year avg record high F = 89

|Jan high F = 27.9

|Feb high F = 31.4

|Mar high F = 40.0

|Apr high F = 53.8

|May high F = 67.6

|Jun high F = 75.2

|Jul high F = 78.8

|Aug high F = 78.3

|Sep high F = 71.4

|Oct high F = 57.7

|Nov high F = 44.1

|Dec high F = 32.6

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 17.4

|Feb mean F = 18.9

|Mar mean F = 27.9

|Apr mean F = 41.2

|May mean F = 54.5

|Jun mean F = 62.6

|Jul mean F = 66.5

|Aug mean F = 65.4

|Sep mean F = 58.6

|Oct mean F = 46.4

|Nov mean F = 34.6

|Dec mean F = 23.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 6.9

|Feb low F = 6.4

|Mar low F = 15.7

|Apr low F = 28.5

|May low F = 41.3

|Jun low F = 50.0

|Jul low F = 54.2

|Aug low F = 52.5

|Sep low F = 45.8

|Oct low F = 35.2

|Nov low F = 25.2

|Dec low F = 14.1

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -27

|Feb avg record low F = -22

|Mar avg record low F = -15

|Apr avg record low F = 9

|May avg record low F = 25

|Jun avg record low F = 34

|Jul avg record low F = 40

|Aug avg record low F = 38

|Sep avg record low F = 29

|Oct avg record low F = 19

|Nov avg record low F = 4

|Dec avg record low F = -15

|year avg record low F = -30

|Jan record low F = -45

|Feb record low F = -38

|Mar record low F = -29

|Apr record low F = -4

|May record low F = 17

|Jun record low F = 25

|Jul record low F = 32

|Aug record low F = 30

|Sep record low F = 18

|Oct record low F = 8

|Nov record low F = -18

|Dec record low F = -38

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.99

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.91

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.07

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.56

|May precipitation inch = 4.71

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.57

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.69

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.47

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.43

|Oct precipitation inch = 5.52

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.78

|Dec precipitation inch = 4.07

|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 40.90

|Feb snow inch = 34.00

|Mar snow inch = 23.20

|Apr snow inch = 6.00

|May snow inch = 0.20

|Jun snow inch = 0.00

|Jul snow inch = 0.00

|Aug snow inch = 0.00

|Sep snow inch = 0.00

|Oct snow inch = 2.00

|Nov snow inch = 12.50

|Dec snow inch = 34.70

|year snow inch =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00300668&format=pdf

|title = Big Moose 3 SE, New York 1991-2020 Monthly Normals

|access-date = October 22, 2023

}}

|source 2 = XMACIS (records & monthly max/mins)

{{cite web

|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = xmACIS

|access-date = October 22, 2023

}}

Communities and recreation

Located southwest of the lake is the hamlet of Big Moose; other nearby communities include Eagle Bay, Inlet, Old Forge, and Thendara. With minimal road access, the lake's shore had not been developed very much. The population reaches a peak during the summer months, when vacationers arrive to stay at summer homes or local resorts.

The lake and its surrounding region are a popular spot for tourists year-round; boating, water-skiing, hiking and train rides from Thendara are available in the summer, and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling take place in the winter. It is home to the Big Moose Water Ski Club, whose members are residents of the region.

The {{convert|50,100|acre|km2|adj=on}} Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area lies just east of the lake.

Fishing

Big Moose lake also offers sport fishing opportunities for brook trout, lake trout, yellow perch, brown trout, and splake. There is a no state-owned boat launch; however, a commercial marina with a ramp is located on the south shore of West Bay.{{Citation|last=Sportsman's Connection (Firm)|title=Western Adirondacks New York fishing map guide: includes lakes & streams for the following counties: Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence.|date=2004-01-01|publisher=Sportsman's Connection|language=en|isbn=1885010672|oclc=61449593}}

History

Image:Big Moose Lake NY USA Architecture.jpg) architecture at Covewood Lodge]]

The lake's region was settled primarily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as people gained access to the region by the first railroad constructed through the uninhabited Adirondack wilderness. Early trappers and hunters of the Adirondacks became guides there, eventually establishing permanent camps and hotels. Wealthy businessmen built large, private summer homes and their families lived here for the season, in the style of the Great Camps of the Vanderbilts and Morgans. Some of these lodges still exist.

The Big Moose Lake area is historically significant for its palisade architectural style, which used vertical half-log construction in lodges and cabins.{{Cite book|title = Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks|editor-last = Barlow|editor-first = Jane |publisher = Big Moose Lake History Project|year = 2004|isbn = 0-8156-0774-1|location = Syracuse, NY|pages = 22, 23}}

Image:TheGlenmoreBigMooseLake.JPG

Representation in culture

Big Moose Lake was the setting of An American Tragedy, a novel by Theodore Dreiser. He based his book on the historic events of the drowning murder of Grace Brown in the South Bay of Big Moose Lake in the early part of the 20th century. Her boyfriend Chester Gillette was convicted and executed for her murder. (Dreiser named the lake where the murder took place as Big Bittern Lake, after having visited Big Moose Lake, and used it as a model for his fictional version.)

A Place in the Sun, a film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, and Montgomery Clift, was an adaptation of the novel and won six Academy Awards and the first ever Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Jennifer Donnelly based her historical novel A Northern Light (2003) on this murder. She explores events from the perspective of a young girl working at the Glenmore (a lodge on the lake). Robert Tucker also set his novel, Sasquatch Camp (2013), in this community.

=Historic places=

The following places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:{{NRISref|2010a}}

Covewood Lodge (listed in 2004)
Big Moose Community Chapel (listed in 2012)

Gallery

File:Big Moose Lake.jpg|Big Moose Lake viewed from Covewood Lodge

File:Big Moose Lake Postcard.jpg|Postcard from 1930-1945 of Big Moose Lake

File:Lake View Lodge, Big Moose, N.Y LCCN2007661121.tif|Lake View Lodge, the first luxury hotel, built 1898 (1911 photo){{cite book|editor-last1=Barlow|editor-first1=Jane A. |title=Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks The Story of the Lake, the Land, and the People|date=2004|publisher=Syracuse University Press|location=Syracuse, New York|isbn=0-8156-0774-1}}

File:Big Moose Lake - Gazebo Dock.jpg