A massive piece of ice broke off a glacier thousands of years ago, eventually forming Round Lake. It is three miles in circumference, covers 321 acres, and has 2.4 miles of coastline.
The lake was early home to the Mohawk tribe who camped and hunted there. Today it is a quiet place for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and nature watching.
The City of Malta partnered with Saratoga PLAN in 2008 to create the 90 acre Round Lake Preserve on the east side of the lake to preserve the country’s natural and archaeological resources.
Laura Parsons from Malta visits the lake with her family.
“Round Lake Preserve is a quiet little wonderland between the bustling cities of Malta and Mechanicville,” she said. “It’s a welcoming place for fishing, kayaking, paddling, and bird watching.”
Once while she was canoeing, Parsons passed a family of beavers while their cubs were out scouting and collecting new tree shoots for the winter. She has also spotted a wide variety of birds there, including various species of hawks and songbirds, a gray heron, and various species of waterfowl. Parsons uses the lake as a place to connect with nature.
“One of the most breathtaking experiences I had at Round Lake was watching a meteor shower illuminate the dark winter sky while bundled in a blanket that begins in the sky,” she said. “Having this local resource available to connect with nature is invaluable.”
Some excursions on the lake are just for fun. Once, when Parsons was at the lake, she enjoyed watching the New York Army National Guard hold their water bucket training drills in preparation for fighting forest fires.
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“I am grateful that Round Lake is so easily accessible. It’s a nice quick break for lunch or a coffee break. “
There is a picnic table with a nice view in the nature reserve.
While weeds and lack of beach make the lake an undesirable place to swim, it’s a great place for fishing. In his book “History of Round Lake”, published in 1887, the author James Weise wrote: “Bass and other fish in its waters invite you to fish.” On its website, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recommends anglers fish the weed beds or near fallen trees to catch largemouth bass and pike.
Nick Morocco from Rotterdam often fishes for sport on the lake. People can fish on the water by kayak or canoe, or straight from the shore along Route 9, he said. Fishing from the shore can be a little trickier due to the vegetation the fish like, but Morocco said the challenge was fun.
“One cool thing about Round Lake is that there are tiger musk species there,” he said. “They are a rarity. They are not found in many waterways. “
You can also fish from the pier in the nature reserve. Other fish in Round Lake, in addition to the bass and pike mentioned above, also include sunglasses, bluegills, rock bass. “Usually the bass sizes are pretty good if you’re lucky enough to get one,” said Morocco.
You might also come across an American eel in the lake. In fact, right outside the door of the Wiggly Worm Bait Shop in Burnt Hills, there is a photo on the wall of a boy holding an eel that he caught in the lake.
Why eels? Anthony Kill, the outlet for Round Lake at the southeast end, is the northernmost point where American eels migrate. Adult eels migrate to the Sargasso Sea, located in the Caribbean east of the Bahamas and north of the West Indies. After they spawn, they die, but their larvae drift and swim with the Gulf Stream and eventually make their way into northern waters as they mature into young eels. Many travel to freshwater creeks and rivers, including Round Lake.
Round lake
ORIGIN OF THE NAME: Round Lake is named for its shape. It is a Kesselsee, which consists of a block of ice that separates from a glacier. These blocks tend to be rounded and form “Kesselseen”.
LOCATION: Saratoga County, east of the village of Round Lake
SIZE: 3 miles in diameter; maximum depth 23 feet
CLAIM TO FAME: The Methodist Church began camp meetings in the village in 1868. President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julie took a cyclone tour of the camp in 1874.
WHERE TO SWIM: Swimming is not recommended due to the large amount of vegetation in the lake.
WHERE TO START: In Round Lake Village, there is a Department of Environment Conservation-accessible hard surface ramp on Route 9. Across the lake, Round Lake Preserve has parking for three cars. A short walk along a promenade leads to the start of the car-top boat on the Anthony Kill.
LAKESIDE DINING ROOM: There are no facilities on the lake itself, but the Lake Ridge Restaurant in the nearby village is a popular restaurant that is open for dinner.
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Categories: Life & Art, Journey 2021
