Lamoka Lake
Encyclopedia
Lamoka Lake is a small crescent-shaped lake
in the western part of New York
, USA. The lake is located at the border of Schuyler County
and Steuben County
. Most of the lake is in Schuyler County with only a small part, called "Mill Pond," at the southwest corner in Steuben County. The name "Lamoka" is a native word meaning "Mud Lake" which was once another name used for Lamoka Lake.
North of Lamoka Lake is another lake called Waneta Lake
(previously known as "Little Lake" or "Green Lake") which is linked to Lamoka Lake by a short channel. Waneta is supposedly a native term for "Green Lake." Both Lamoka Lake and Waneta Lake are east of Keuka Lake
, one of the Finger Lakes
. However, they are not part of the Finger Lakes drainage system. While the Finger Lakes drain north into the St. Lawrence River system, Lamoka and Waneta Lakes drain south into the Cohocton River
in the Susquehanna River
system.
The lake is well-stocked with a variety of fish, including several species of panfish
. Boat launching ramps are available for each lake.
Lamoka Lake is in the Towns of Tyrone
and Orange
in Schuyler County and Bradford
in Steuben County.
New York State Route 226
passes close by the eastern shore of the lake.
Mud Creek near Bradford feeds into the south end of the lake.
Lamoka Lake is northeast of Bath
and northwest of Watkins Glen
.
excavations around Lamoka Lake revealed that they lived part of the year in small houses. Tool survival indicated that hunting and fishing were important activities.
The Lamoka People lived in central New York and northern Pennsylvania
from about 3500 to 1300 BCE.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the western part 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...
, USA. The lake is located at the border of Schuyler County
Schuyler County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
. Most of the lake is in Schuyler County with only a small part, called "Mill Pond," at the southwest corner in Steuben County. The name "Lamoka" is a native word meaning "Mud Lake" which was once another name used for Lamoka Lake.
North of Lamoka Lake is another lake called Waneta Lake
Waneta Lake
Waneta Lake is a small lake in the Finger Lakes region of the state of New York in the United States. The lake straddles the border of Schuyler County and Steuben County, and is within the towns of Tyrone and Wayne. Waneta Lake is 3.5 miles long and half a mile wide , and lies just east of the...
(previously known as "Little Lake" or "Green Lake") which is linked to Lamoka Lake by a short channel. Waneta is supposedly a native term for "Green Lake." Both Lamoka Lake and Waneta Lake are east of Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
, one 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...
. However, they are not part of the Finger Lakes drainage system. While the Finger Lakes drain north into the St. Lawrence River system, Lamoka and Waneta Lakes drain south into the Cohocton River
Cohocton River
The Cohocton River is a tributary of the Chemung River in western New York in the United States. Via the Chemung River, it is part of the Susquehanna River watershed, flowing to Chesapeake Bay...
in the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
system.
The lake is well-stocked with a variety of fish, including several species of panfish
Panfish
A panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan. The term is also commonly used by anglers to refer to any small catch that will fit in a pan, but is large enough to be legal. However its definition and usage varies with...
. Boat launching ramps are available for each lake.
Geography
Lamoka Lake is located at 42°24′23"N 77°04′41"W.Lamoka Lake is in the Towns of Tyrone
Tyrone, New York
Tyrone is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 1,714 at the 2000 census.The Town of Tyrone is in the northwest part of the county and is east of Bath, NY.- History :...
and Orange
Orange, New York
----Orange is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 1,752 at the 2000 census.The Town of Orange is in the southwest part of the county and is east of Bath, New York.- History :...
in Schuyler County and Bradford
Bradford, New York
Bradford is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 763 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Major Robert Bradford.The Town of Bradford is in the northeast part of the county, north of Corning, New York....
in Steuben County.
New York State Route 226
New York State Route 226
New York State Route 226 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with the Southern Tier Expressway just west of the Savona village line in the town of Bath...
passes close by the eastern shore of the lake.
Mud Creek near Bradford feeds into the south end of the lake.
Lamoka Lake is northeast of Bath
Bath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
and northwest 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....
.
Physiography of Lamoka Lake
The surface is 1,100 feet (335 m) above sea level and the maximum depth is 40 feet (10 m). The total surface area is 824 acres (3.3 km²) bounded by about eleven miles (18 km) of shoreline. The water is slightly alkaline.Communities of Lamoka Lake
- Bradford, Town of BradfordBradford, New YorkBradford is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 763 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Major Robert Bradford.The Town of Bradford is in the northeast part of the county, north of Corning, New York....
- Tyrone, Town of TyroneTyrone, New YorkTyrone is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 1,714 at the 2000 census.The Town of Tyrone is in the northwest part of the county and is east of Bath, NY.- History :...
- Weston, Town of Tyrone.
History
The Lamoka Culture was a late Archaic native culture that subsisted mainly by hunting and gathering. ArchaeologicalArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
excavations around Lamoka Lake revealed that they lived part of the year in small houses. Tool survival indicated that hunting and fishing were important activities.
The Lamoka People lived in central New York and northern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from about 3500 to 1300 BCE.