A LIMNOLOGICAIv STUDY OF THE FINGER LAKES. 
541 
the basin are very steep, as are also those above water; and these steep slopes begin 
close to the northern end of the lake and extend through its length. Bluff Point, which 
divides the two arms of the lake, is one of the finest hills to be found adjacent to the 
lakes, and has been most characteristically shaped by glacial action. 
The waters of Little Lake, which is shown on the map, drain into the Susquehanna 
River, and thus reach Chesapeake Bay, while those of Keuka Lake ultimately reach 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 
Observations were made on Keuka Lake in the deepest water off Grove Springs. 
For the details of the hydrography, see p. 598. 
Canandaigua Lake (pi. cxvi). — Canandaigua Lake repeats the typical form of the 
Finger Lakes — a basin, relatively broad and shallow at the north end, with flat low- 
lying shores. To the south the hills rise and steepen and come down close to the lake. 
The hills on the east side rise with a steep slope almost to their summits. South Hill 
showing a rise of nearly 400 meters in i kilometer, while other slopes are nearly as 
steep for shorter distances. No lake has so many high hills adjacent to it. Burr and 
South Hills lie to the east, and on the west are Powell and Stid Hills. Between these 
is Bristol Hill, which reaches a height of about 500 meters (1,604 feet) above the lake. 
Its summit is just to the west of the limits of the map, due west from Lapham Point. 
Between these hills are deep valleys, of which Vine Valley on the east side is the most 
conspicuous. These high hills, with their valleys, make the scenery of Canandaigua 
Lake more diversified than that of any other Finger Lake. No single view, indeed, is 
finer than that of Bluff Point from Keuka Lake, but in variety of scenery Canandaigua 
excels. 
The transparency of the lake in 1910 was 3.7 meters, the lowest found in the major 
lakes. 
Observations on gas and plankton were made in the deepest water and not far from 
Grange Landing. In both 1911 and 1912 four series of temperatures were taken, of 
which the southern was near Cooks Point, and the northern near Hope Point. 
For the details of the hydrography, see page 597. 
Skaneateles Lake (pi. cxi). — Skaneateles Lake is the easternmost of the six major 
lakes and is almost a replica of Canandaigua, the westernmost. Its length is almost the 
same, its breadth slightly less, and its area correspondingly smaller. Its depth, both 
mean and maximum, is greater, in spite of which the shores to the south are not so high 
as those of Canandaigua, nor are there the deep lateral valleys that diversify the steep 
walls of the latter basin. The highest and steepest slopes are reached only at the 
extreme south end of the lake and extend up the valley beyond the water. Here on 
the west side is found a slope about 250 meters high with a gradient of about 1 13. This 
is, as usual, exceeded by the under-water slopes, which reach near Carpenters Point a 
maximum of i : 1.5 for a height of 60 meters. 
The transparency of the lake in 1910 was 10.3 meters, by far the greatest found. 
This had no apparent effect on the distribution of temperature. 
Skaneateles Lake serves as a reservoir for part of the canal system of New York, 
and its outlet is controlled by a dam, which raises the water perhaps about 2.5 meters 
60289° — Bull. 32 — 14 35 
