Finger Lakes Underwater Preserve Association
Encyclopedia
The Finger Lakes Underwater Preserve Association (FLUPA) is a group of regional divers, associates, and families interested in promotion of scuba diving
and the history
and ecology
of the Finger Lakes
region of New York
.
which sank in the 19th century. These once sturdy wooden barges have become extremely fragile and are susceptible to both natural and man made means of deterioration. As such, FLUPA has installed and maintains two marked and lighted buoy
s which include mooring anchors to protect the underwater structures from damage by boats dropping their own anchor
s. These buoys can be found just north of Watkins Glen
, along the west shoreline of Seneca Lake.
. Seneca Lake still connected to the New York State Canal System
, boats have been using these travel routes since the early 19th century. Thus, there is considerable history which has sunk along the waterways in this region.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
and the history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
of the 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...
region of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
History and Purpose
Most of the underwater structures currently of interest to FLUPA consist of canal bargesBarge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
which sank in the 19th century. These once sturdy wooden barges have become extremely fragile and are susceptible to both natural and man made means of deterioration. As such, FLUPA has installed and maintains two marked and lighted buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s which include mooring anchors to protect the underwater structures from damage by boats dropping their own anchor
Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
s. These buoys can be found just north of Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
, along the west shoreline of Seneca Lake.
Location
Currently, FLUPA is working on preserving and providing access to sunken canal barges in Seneca Lake near the village of Watkins Glen, New YorkWatkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
. Seneca Lake still connected to the New York State Canal System
New York State Canal System
The New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York...
, boats have been using these travel routes since the early 19th century. Thus, there is considerable history which has sunk along the waterways in this region.