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Saratoga Lake

{{Short description|Lake in Saratoga County, New York, USA}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Saratoga Lake

| image = SaratogaLakeApril2012.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Saratoga Lake from the southwest with a view of Snake Hill

| image_bathymetry =

| alt_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Saratoga County, New York

| coords = {{coord|43.020|-73.740|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}

| type =

| inflow = Kayaderosseras Creek

| outflow = Fish Creek

| catchment = {{convert|244|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}

| basin_countries = United States

| agency =

| length = {{convert|4.5|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| area = {{convert|6.3|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| depth = {{convert|25|ft|abbr=on}}

| max-depth = {{convert|95|ft|abbr=on}}

| volume = {{convert|33|e9USgal|e6m3|abbr=on}}

| residence_time = 5 months

| shore = {{convert|23|mi|abbr=on}}

| elevation = {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| frozen = usually unfreezes mid-late March or early-mid April

| islands =

| cities =

| pushpin_map = New York#USA

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Saratoga Lake in New York, USA.

| pushpin_map_caption =

| website =

| reference = {{cite web|title=Lake Information|url=http://www.saratogalake.org/lake_info.html|publisher=Saratoga Lake Association|access-date=21 June 2012}}{{cite web|last=Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce|title=Saratoga Lake|url=http://www.saratoga.org/visitors/saratoga-lake.asp|access-date=March 23, 2012}}

}}

Saratoga Lake is in the eastern part of Saratoga County, New York. The lake is approximately {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} long, about {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} wide at its widest point, and about {{convert|95|ft|m}} deep.

The lake is bordered by the city of Saratoga Springs on the northwest, the town of Malta on the southwest, the town of Stillwater on the southeast, and the town of Saratoga on the northeast.{{cite web|last=Beers|first=S.N. and D.G.|title=New Topographical Atlas of Saratoga County, New York|url=http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/saratoga/SaratogaCo.html|publisher=Stone and Stewart Publishers|year=1866|access-date=March 23, 2012}} New York State Route 9P runs along the southern end and eastern side of the lake, and then crosses its outlet in the north.

The lake's major source is Kayaderosseras Creek, which enters the lake from the northwest, and the outlet is Fish Creek, which exits the lake from the north and flows into the Hudson River at Schuylerville.

Fishing

Fish species present in the lake are walleye, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, northern pike, tiger muskie, largemouth bass, carp, pumpkinseed sunfish, and brown bullhead. There is a state-owned hard surface ramp boat launch off Union Avenue on the north shore.{{Citation|last=Sportsman's Connection (Firm)|title=Central Southeastern Adirondacks New York fishing map guide: includes lakes & streams for the following counties: Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington.|date=2011-01-01|publisher=Sportsman's Connection|language=en|isbn=9781885010667|oclc=61449593}}

History

File:View of Saratoga Lake from the north about 1867.jpg about 1867]]

The name "Saratoga" is said to derive from the native Se-rach-ta-gue, meaning "hillside country of the great river"; however, several completely different interpretations have been proposed.{{cite book |last=Sylvester |first=Natheniel Bartlett |title=Saratoga and the Kay-ad-ros-ser-a: an Historical Address |year=1876 |publisher=William H. Young |location=Troy, NY |url=https://archive.org/stream/saratogakayadros00sylv#page/n6/mode/1up}}{{rp|11–12}}

Archeological evidence shows Native American occupation dating back to 7000 BC.{{cite web |last=Curtin Archaeological Consulting, Inc. |title=Making History in Saratoga Springs: Health and Horses in the City, Ancient Settlements out by the Lake |url=http://curtinarchaeology.com/blog/2012/02/16/making-history-in-saratoga-springs-health-and-horses-in-the-city-ancient-settlements-out-by-the-lake/}}

The first European to visit the lake may have been the Jesuit Isaac Jogues in 1642.{{rp|30}} The Saint Isaac Jogues Chapel, on the lake in Stillwater, commemorates his mission.

=Rowing=

The sport of rowing has a long history on Saratoga Lake, especially along Fish Creek. "In July 1874, the Rowing Association of American Colleges hosted the University Race for the Championship at Saratoga."{{cite web|last=Weintraub|first=Gabe|title=Head of the Fish a part of Saratoga's history|url=http://www.skidmorenews.com/2.11979/head-of-the-fish-a-part-of-saratoga-s-history-1.1736702?pagereq=1#.T20C5dmsauI|publisher=The Skidmore News|access-date=March 23, 2012}} Columbia won what was reported as "the most exciting race ever witnessed." Other participants were Wesleyan, Harvard, Williams, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, Trinity, and Yale.{{cite news|title=Saratoga Regatta|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PxxeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4081,6753504&dq=saratoga+regatta&hl=en|access-date=March 23, 2012|newspaper=Dubuque Herald|date=July 19, 1874|via=Google News Herald}} Competitions were held annually thereafter for several years. The tradition was revived in 1986 with the first Head of the Fish Regatta, which by 2010 had grown to be "the second largest regatta in the country, by volume of boats entered."

Places on Saratoga Lake

The north end of the lake, around Fish Creek, has a public boat launch and many private marinas, while the middle and southern areas are less densely developed.

  • Brown's Beach, Stillwater — public beach, restaurant and bed and breakfast
  • Salvi Aquatic Boat Rentals, Saratoga Lake Boat Rentals — located on north side of the lake
  • Lees Park Campground — RV campground and marina located on north side of the lake
  • Crum's Place, Malta Avenue Ext., Malta — former restaurant owned by one of the various people reputed to be the inventor of the potato chip
  • Fish Creek, Saratoga — public boat launch
  • Fish Creek Marina, Saratoga — kayak and paddleboard rentals
  • Moon's Lake House, Saratoga Springs (now razed)
  • Riley's Cove (Chinatown), Malta
  • Saratoga Lake Sailing Club, Manning's Cove, Malta
  • Saratoga Lake Motel, Saratoga
  • Snake Hill, Stillwater — an outcrop on the east side of the lake named for timber rattlesnakes that denned there until their extirpation in the mid-1800s; this was the only known rattlesnake den to have ever occurred in Saratoga County. The county placed a bounty on rattlesnakes from 1948 to 1950, after the snakes were extirpated.{{cite book|last=Furman|first=Jon|title=Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York|year=2007|publisher=University Press of New England|location=Lebanon, NH|isbn=978-1584656562|pages=85}}
  • South Shore Marina, Malta
  • White Sulphur Spring hotel (now razed), Stillwater

In popular culture

Episode 5 of the Twilight Zone, "Walking Distance", has a reference to renting a cottage on Saratoga Lake.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.saratogalake.org/ Saratoga Lake Association]

{{Hudson River}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Lakes of New York (state)

Category:Lakes of Saratoga County, New York