Where Are the Finger Lakes Located?

Where are the Finger Lakes located and what are the Finger Lakes? The Finger Lakes are lakes of geological interest with a somewhat unusual structure. Of linear shape, the lakes are very long but very thin. The longest two are the Cayuga and the Seneca, both almost reaching forty miles long but never more than three and a half miles wide. The lakes are also known for being extremely deep. The Seneca is six hundred and eighteen feet deep and is one of the deepest lakes in the United States.

Located in upstate New York, the finger lakes are south of Lake Ontario and have become a popular vacation destination in the northeast. They also makeup New York’s premiere winemaking destination, and are referred to the east coast version of California’s Napa Valley in some circles.

Knowing where are the Finger Lakes located involves knowing something about the area. The climate is generally pleasant, a feature that nurtures the winemaking business that defines the region. In the winter, snow can be a concern as the proximity of so many lakes effects the weather, making it a common occurrence for several feet of snow to drop within a single weekend. Snowfall of an inch per hour has been reported, but isn’t typical.

The Finger Lakes Area

Knowing where are the Finger Lakes are located also involves knowing about the area. Almost 100 wineries surround the Finger Lakes. Much attention has been given to this area by food and wine writers, helping to expand the popularity of this region’s drink.

The particular wine that this area is best known for is its Riesling—Finger Lakes wines have proved their worth by doing rather well in competing against German Rieslings, which are often thought to be the best in the world and set the standard for this variety. 

Seneca Lake boasts not only the largest lake but also the largest wine trail with several award-winning wineries and very active participants. The Cayuga Wine Trail features a flavorful tour of wineries that includes fresh herbs and food at each stop. Some of the most successful wineries include Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars and Bull Hill Winery in Hammondsport and Fox Run Vineyards in Penn Yan. The majority of wineries will feature tastings of their various wine products and some also feature tours and events or even operate cafes or restaurants at their location. Local wines are also a favorite of the region’s premiere restaurants.

Surrounding Cities

The Finger Lakes region contains a number of diverse and exciting cities and towns. These areas include Rochester, New York’s third largest city and Ithaca, a classic American college town that hosts Cornell University. The population of this region is no less diverse, there are significant German and Italian populations and there are many members of the Amish community around the Finger Lakes, making horse-drawn carriages driving on the shoulders of major roads an ordinary sight. 

American Indian history also predominates this region. Prior to European settling, the Iroquois were a near egalitarian society that depended on the land and the sea as they farmed and fished their food. Some of the culture that once was still remains, and Iroquois names are often used in naming locations, including the Finger Lakes.

Tourist Attractions

Due to the growing popularity of the Finger Lakes as a vacation spot, there is much to do in this region. If the wineries and beautiful lake vistas aren’t enough, there are museums, festivals and historical villages to explore. Among the museums are the Corning Museum of Glass, the Museum of the Earth and The National Soaring Museum.

Seneca Falls was once a hotbed of suffrage activism, and a tribute is paid to the struggle for women’s rights in the Women’s Rights National Historic Park. This park includes the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leading figure of the early suffrage movement.

Festivals in the area include the Renaissance Festival in Sterling held in late summer, the Naples Grape Festival celebrating local wine in September and the Cohocton Fall Foliage Festival in October. Canandaigua features a thriving historical 19th-century downtown and the town of Skaneateles features what’s described as a Storybook village by a lake. Fairport and Victor also feature quaint downtown areas.