Conesus Lake is one of the minor Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...

 in western New York

Western New York

Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...

. 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

Livonia, New York

Livonia, New York refers to two locations in Livingston County, New York:*Livonia , New York*Livonia , New York, within the Town of Livonia...

 in Livingston County

Livingston County, New York

As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...

, south of Rochester, New York

Rochester, New York

Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...

. The lake's inlet is in the Town of Conesus, New York

Conesus, New York

Conesus is a town in Livingston County, New York , United States. The population was 2,353 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a native word meaning "Berry place."...

. The lake flows south-to-north; its outlet flows into the Genesee River

Genesee River

The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....

 near Avon, New York

Avon, New York

Avon, New York is the name of two places located in Livingston County in the State of New York in the United States of America.*Avon , New York*Avon , New York...

. It is located off Interstate 390

Interstate 390

Interstate 390 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Southern Tier Expressway in the town of Avoca. Its northern terminus is at I-490 in Rochester...

 (exit 9), about 15 miles south of Interstate 90

Interstate 90

Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...

.

Conesus Lake is eight miles (13 kilometers) long. Conesus Lake Boat Launch

Conesus Lake Boat Launch

Conesus Lake Boat Launch is a state park at the east shore of Conesus Lake, one of the minor Finger Lakes, near the village of Livonia.The park is open mid-April to mid-October and offers picnic tables, a boat launch and fishing.-External links:*...

 is a state park at the east shore, near the village of Livonia

Livonia (village), New York

Livonia is a village located in the Town of Livonia, Livingston County, New York, at the intersection of US Route 20 and Route 15. The population was 1,373 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Livonia is located at ....

. 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

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia is a deadly infectious fish disease caused by theViral hemorrhagic septicemia virus...

 (VHS), an infectious fish disease responsible for mass die-offs of many species, but not linked to any human health concerns. The disease is spread between waterways through live or frozen bait fish

Bait fish

Bait fish are small fish caught for use as bait to attract large predatory fish, particularly game fish. Species used are typically those that are common and breed rapidly, making them easy to catch and in regular supply. Examples of marine bait fish are anchovies, halfbeaks such as ballyhoo, and...

, 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.

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

Flare (pyrotechnic)

A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...

 all around the lake and shoot off fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...

. 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.