Personal blog about states
The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes in an area informally called the Finger Lakes region in New York, in the United States.
The Finger Lakes region of New York State is comprised of nine counties: Monroe, Wayne, Seneca, Ontario, Yates, Livingston, Wyoming, Genesee and Orleans. The Finger Lakes area contains more than eleven narrow bodies of water, for which the region is named, and covers 4,692 square miles.
213 miles
11 Finger Lakes
Cayuga Lake
middle finger
Native American legend claims that the lakes were formed by the hands of the Great Spirit when he (or she!) laid their hands on the land to bless it. His (or her!) fingers left imprints that filled with water, hence the name “ Finger Lakes .”
Whether you are hoping to relax on the beach or cool off with a swim , the Finger Lakes region offers many public beaches and swimming areas.
The Finger Lakes are known for producing excellent wine, particularly for world-renowned Rieslings. That being said, the Finger Lakes have so much more to offer. Though most noted for its wine tours, the Finger Lakes Region is also host to a number of other tours including boat tours and food tours.
Skaneateles Lake
Although anytime is a great time to come, the best time to visit the Finger Lakes is late spring through summer, or May through September. It’s an outdoor wonderland, full of recreational activities and water sports for any adventure lover!
3 Days
The 11 Finger Lakes are the lifeblood of our region. They provide drinking water for one million residents while attracting tourists from around the world. The lakes have long been known for clean waters, but nutrient-laden runoff – exacerbated by a warming climate – has resulted in declining water quality.
There are 11 Finger Lakes , ranging in surface area from one square mile (Canadice) to 67 square miles (Seneca) and in depth from 30 feet (Honeoye) to 650 feet (Seneca). For comparison, the largest of the Great Lakes , Lake Superior, is a whopping 31,700 square miles in area and more than 1,300 feet deep.
Our lakes are old, natural, and non- manmade . Each of the Finger Lakes ranges from 40 miles in length and up to 618 feet in depth. They lie within a triangle between Syracuse, Rochester and Elmira-Corning. Despite their huge presence, the lakes are only a part of our waters.