Finger Lakes Headline News (2024)

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What happened in the Finger Lakes? ›

History of the Finger Lakes

As the last ice age ended, the final glaciers covering what is now the northern reaches of the United States receded. The incredible grinding pressures of the receding glaciers gouged enormous holes in what is now the Finger Lakes region.

Seneca Lake is the deepest of the Finger Lakes (618 ft. depth).

The Finger Lakes lie in former river valleys carved into U-shaped troughs of this type. Water flowing into the deepened valleys became trapped between the debris at the north and south ends of the valleys. Eventually, water filled in the valleys and the Finger Lakes resulted, in much the same form as they appear today.

History. The Finger Lakes region is a central part of the Iroquois homeland. The Iroquois tribes include the Seneca and Cayuga nations, for which the two largest Finger Lakes are named.

— More than 120 years ago, a steamboat sank to the bottom of Canandaigua Lake and was quickly forgotten. That is, until a Canandaigua man spotted it on his computer, and then found it in the water. Now, he's sharing all he's learned about The Seneca Chief. As a kid, Scott Hill developed a fascination for the water.

The Finger Lakes area was the last stop on the way to freedom. Christian Churches were the most common places of refuge for enslaved people and often had extensive tunnels constructed in the cellars. Supposedly, many of these tunnels ran under the lakes, but the entrance locations are difficult to ascertain.

The cleanest of the lakes is Skaneateles Lake, which is considered one of the cleanest in the United States and passes to homes unfiltered. There are waterfront restaurants to enjoy its crystalline lake views and designated swimming areas. At 16 miles long, it spans through Onondaga, Cayuga, and Cortland counties.

But even though it may be the largest freshwater fish species in the state's inland waters, its conservation status is threatened. Lake sturgeon can be considered an inshore warmwater species, making it relatively easy to catch.

But beneath the lakes' pristine waters are untold stories. They lurk amid shipwrecks and sunken boats. Perhaps the most famous is the wreckage of the Onondaga, a 175-foot paddlewheel steamer that sank in the middle of Seneca Lake, south of Geneva.

Which Finger Lake is polluted? ›

One major source of pollution for Onondaga Lake is municipal sewage. For years, Syracuse dumped human waste into the lake with little or no treatment.

Keuka Lake is a wonderful vacation spot for those near and far. Boating, kayaking/canoeing, jet skiing, water skiing, and tubing are great summer activities. For those less adventurous, the Esparanza Rose cruise ship launches for Lunch and Dinner cruises along the lake.

Watershed includes that of Keuka Lake, which discharges into Seneca Lake at Dresden. High impact invasive species include quagga and zebra mussels, alewives, sea lamprey eels, and Eurasian watermilfoil. Lake Trout, Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon are stocked annually.

Native Americans Lived in the Finger Lakes for More Than 10,000 Years. The Iroquois were the last in the series of Indian cultures to live in the Finger Lakes region. Once Europeans invaded eastern North America, they forced Native Americans out of their homelands, which bordered the forest.

The name “Keuka” comes from the Native American phrase meaning “Canoe Landing”, but the Seneca tribe called the lake “o-go-ya-ga,” which translates to “the promontory,” likely in reference to the bluff. Keuka is the only Finger Lake that exits into another one (Seneca.)

The legend goes “The Finger Lakes came into being when the Great Spirit looked upon this land with special favor and reached down to bless it, leaving the imprint of His hand.”

Millions of years ago, the lakes were northward-flowing streams that ran through a series of narrow valleys shaped like a V. Beginning about two million years ago, during a period known as the Pleistocene glaciation, sheets of ice crept south and buried those valleys under ice.

We are ready to welcome you! Finger Lakes activities - including wineries, restaurants, and attractions - are open and ready for you to experience. We want you to Visit Confidently and we want to ensure that you will get the friendly, world-class service you have come to expect in the Finger Lakes.

The Office (TV Series 2005–2013) - Jim Carrey as The Fingerlakes Guy - IMDb.