Green Lake (DeWitt)
Coordinates: 42.995°N 76.091°W
Elevation: 583 feet/177.6 meters
Map
LOCATION
This Green Lake is one of three lakes called Green Lake in Onondaga County. Located in the Town of DeWitt just 5 mi./8 km. southeast of the City of Syracuse, it is the outstanding geological feature of Clark Reservation State Park.
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
A limestone escarpment created 400 million years ago, when much of the continent was covered by a salt sea, underlies much of the area, including much of the park. From a ridge on this escarpment one can stand and look down into a 10-acre, circular, meromictic lake. It is thought that, when the glaciers receded thousands of years ago, an enormous waterfall tumbled over the escarpment into a plunge basin. Over the millennia, the water stopped flowing. What remained is called Green Lake, one of the finest examples of a glacial cataract lake in eastern North America.
ACCESS TO THE LAKE
There is no access to the lake other than through the entrance to the park, which is at the top of the escarpment. One needs to walk down many stairs to access the lake, which is surrounded by woods. Although historically boats have been launched on the lake, any launching of boats done these days would have to be done with the permission of the park.
WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE
Because the lake is surrounded by the park, any wildlife and plant life in or near the lake relates to the park and is described in detail on the park's page.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The park does not permit camping, though there are a wide variety of accommodations available in Onondaga County.
Created 22 July 2009
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