Saratoga Lake

Saratoga Lake is a lake in the eastern part of Saratoga County, New York. The lake is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide at its widest point, and about 95 feet (29 m) deep.[2]

Saratoga Lake
Saratoga Lake from the southwest with a view of Snake Hill
Saratoga Lake
Saratoga Lake
LocationSaratoga County, New York
Coordinates43.020°N 73.740°W / 43.020; -73.740
Primary inflowsKayaderosseras Creek
Primary outflowsFish Creek
Catchment area244 sq mi (630 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length4.5 miles (7.2 km)
Max. width1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Surface area6.3 sq mi (16 km2)
Average depth25 ft (7.6 m)
Max. depth95 ft (29 m)
Water volume33×10^9 US gal (120×10^6 m3)
Residence time5 months
Shore length123 mi (37 km)
Surface elevation200 feet (61 m)
Frozenusually unfreezes mid-late March or early-mid April
References[1][2]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The Lake is surrounded by the City of Saratoga Springs on the north west, the Town of Malta on the south west, the Town of Stillwater on the south east, and the Town of Saratoga on the north east.[3] New York State Route 9P is a highway that 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 the Kayaderosseras Creek which enters the lake from the north west, and the outlet is Fish Creek, which exits the lake from the north and flows into the Hudson River at Schuylerville, New York.

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.[4]

History
View of Saratoga Lake from the north end in the vicinity of Moon's Lake House 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.[5]

Archeological evidence shows Native American occupation dating back to 7000BC.[6]

The first European to visit the lake may have been the Jesuit Isaac Jogues in 1642.[7] 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."[8] Columbia won what was reported as "the most exciting race ever witnessed." Other participants were Wesleyan, Harvard, Williams, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, Trinity, and Yale.[9] Competitions were held annually thereafter for several years.

This 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."[8]

Places on Saratoga Lake

The north end of the lake, around Fish Creek, contains 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 pig.
  • Crum's Place - Malta Ave. Ext., Malta., former restaurant owned by the reputed inventor of the potato chip.
  • Fish Creek - Saratoga. Public boat launch.
  • Fish Creek Marina - Saratoga. Kayak and paddleboard rentals.
  • Kaydeross Park (now closed) former trolley park - Saratoga Springs.
  • Moon's Lake House - Saratoga Springs (now razed). George Crum supposedly invented potato chips here.
  • 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.[10]
  • South Shore Marina - Malta.
  • White Sulphur Spring hotel (now razed) - Stillwater.

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

References
  1. "Lake Information". Saratoga Lake Association. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  2. Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. "Saratoga Lake". Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  3. Beers, S.N. and D.G. (1866). "New Topographical Atlas of Saratoga County, New York". Stone and Stewart Publishers. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  4. Sportsman's Connection (Firm) (2011-01-01), Central Southeastern Adirondacks New York fishing map guide: includes lakes & streams for the following counties: Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington., Sportsman's Connection, ISBN 9781885010667, OCLC 61449593
  5. Sylvester, Natheniel Bartlett (1876). Saratoga and the Kay-ad-ros-ser-a: an Historical Address. Troy, NY: William H. Young. pp. 11–12.
  6. Curtin Archaeological Consulting, Inc. "Making History in Saratoga Springs: Health and Horses in the City, Ancient Settlements out by the Lake".
  7. Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett (1879). History of Saratoga County, New York. Philadelphia: Everts and Ensign. p. 30.
  8. Weintraub, Gabe. "Head of the Fish a part of Saratoga's history". The Skidmore News. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  9. "Saratoga Regatta". Dubuque Herald. July 19, 1874. Retrieved March 23, 2012 – via Google News Herald.
  10. Furman, Jon (2007). Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England. p. 85. ISBN 978-1584656562.
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