Lows Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lows Lake
image_lake = Lows Lake.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
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location = New York
coords = coord|44|06|31|N|74|40|21|W|type:waterbody_region:US-NY_source:gnis|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Bog River Flow
outflow = Bog River Flow
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
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elevation = convert|1762|ft|m|abbr=on
islands =
cities =

Lows Lake is a lake/reservoir in the Adirondack Park in northeastern New York. It is located in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, convert|10|mi|km southwest of Tupper Lake. The lake is part of the Bog River Flow. While it is largely surrounded by New York State Forest Preserve, the northeast shore is privately held, along with a few small parcels that border the lake.

The lake was named after A. Augustus Low, son of Abiel Abbot Low; Low owned 40,000 acres in this vicinity early in the 20th century. Low constructed two hydroelectric dams along the eastern portion of the Bog River Flow; the upper dam, where most of Low's main buildings were located, created Lows Lake. On the granite ledge above the second dam there is a plaque commemorating the Low's memory. His ashes were spread from the ledge.

Sabattis Scout Reservation owns a portion of the lake with three islands and has a Boy Scout camp located near the mid-eastern and northern portion.

Grass Pond Mountain, convert|2240|ft|m, lies directly north of the lake and has expansive views from its summit. Graves Mountain, convert|2300|ft|m, is named after a 19th century hunter from Tupper Lake; its southern flank was eroded after the forest fire of 1906, exposing a large granite face; a survey marker is located at its peak.

"Horsehead Island", actually a floating bog, was located at the western end of Lows Lake for many years. In the 1980s a large portion separated from the mass and now sits halfway easterly in the lake near a campsite known as Boone's landing. The bog is filled with an impressive number of large pitcher plants and other bog plant material.

The western end of Lows Lake lies deep within the proposed Adirondacks "Bob Marshall Wilderness", (there is another in Montana). At the western end of the lake is a three and one-half mile carry to the Oswegatchie River. This trail passes by a huge blowdown from 1995, Big Deer Pond and a long esker before reaching the upper source of the Oswegatchie River. There is a large beaver dam, followed by the Big Deer Pond outlet north approximately 1/4 mile to the St. Lawrence-Herkimer-Hamilton county marker. Slightly south of the marker stands what is purportedly the widest White Pine in the Adirondacks.

External links

* [http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newyork/press/press2325.html Lows Lake Shoreline Protected]
*gnis|977236|Lows Lake
* [http://prfamerica.org/BlowdownCaution.html blowdown from 1995]