Conesus Lake

Conesus Lake
The east shore, seen from Long Point Park
Location	Livingston County, New York, USA
Group	Finger Lakes
Coordinates	42°46′47″N 77°43′00″W / 42.77972°N 77.7166667°W / 42.77972; -77.7166667Coordinates: 42°46′47″N 77°43′00″W / 42.77972°N 77.7166667°W / 42.77972; -77.7166667
Lake type	glacial
Basin countries	United States
Max. width	8 mi (13 km)
Max. depth	66 ft (20 m)
Frozen	Winter
Islands	none

An aerial view of Conesus Lake

Conesus Lake is one of the minor Finger Lakes in western New York. It is western-most of eleven total Finger Lakes. The lake's outlet is in Lakeville, New York a hamlet in the Town of Livonia, New York in Livingston County, south of Rochester, New York. The lake's inlet is in the Town of Conesus, New York. The lake flows south-to-north; its outlet flows into the Genesee River near Avon, New York. It is located off Interstate 390 (exit 9), about 15 miles south of Interstate 90.

Conesus Lake is eight miles (13 kilometers) long. Conesus Lake Boat Launch is a state park at the east shore, near the village of Livonia. Conesus Lake's maximum depth is 66 feet (20 meters).

In August 2006, the NY DEC confirmed that the lake was the first outside the contiguous Great Lakes waterways to be stricken with a new strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), an infectious fish disease responsible for mass die-offs of many species, but not linked to any human health concerns.^[1][2] The disease is spread between waterways through live or frozen bait fish, roe, contaminated fishing equipment or live water wells in boats.

When frozen over in the winter, Conesus Lake is used for snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Fireworks during the Ring of Fire. The red lights at the bottom are flares.

Every July 3, the residents of the lake participate in a tradition called the Ring of Fire, sponsored by the Conesus Lake Association. They light road flares all around the lake and shoot off fireworks. The festivities typically start at dusk, with approximately 10,000 flares lit by 10:00 PM.

The U.S.S. Lady of the Lake is reportedly sunken in Conesus Lake.

References

1. ^ Crawford, Franklin. Cornell researchers confirm that deadly fish virus has spread to 19 species, threatening sport-fishing industry. Chronicle Online. Cornell University. May 17, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
2. ^ "Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in New York". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/25328.html. Retrieved 2009-08-04. 

External links

Finger Lakes portal

Media related to Conesus Lake at Wikimedia Commons