Lake Placid (New York)

For the village, see Lake Placid, New York.

Lake Placid
Placid Lake
View from the gondola on Whiteface Mountain
Lake Placid Show map of New York Lake Placid Show map of the United States
Location	Adirondack Mountains, Essex County, New York, US
Coordinates	44°19′N073°58′W / 44.317°N 73.967°W / 44.317; -73.967
Type	Glacial lake
Basin  countries	United States
Surface area	2,170 acres (8.8 km2)
Average depth	50 ft (15 m)
Surface elevation	1,857 ft (566 m)
Islands	Buck Island, Moose Island, Hawk Island
Settlements	Lake Placid

The body of water named Lake Placid is located in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, the United States. ^[1] It is on the northern side of the Village of Lake Placid.

History

The earliest appearance of Lake Placid on a map dates to 1804. In that map, it is known as Placid Lake. ^[2] "Placid Lake" is still sometimes used to distinguish it from the village of Lake Placid, New York. ^[3] Europeans began to settle in the area in the early 19th century. ^[4]

Geography

The lake is approximately 2,170 acres (8.8 km²), and has an average depth of about 50 feet (15 m). It is located in the towns of North Elba and St. Armand, both in Essex County.

There are three islands on Lake Placid, named Buck, Moose, and Hawk.

Conservation

The lake borders the northern part of the village of Lake Placid, and is a source of drinking water for the town. Maintaining water quality in the lake is a major local issue. The lake is fed by springs and Adirondacks mountain streams. There are nearly 300 houses on the lake shore. Because most of the houses are unoccupied much of the year, the water usually remains clean.

Local efforts to combat aquatic invasive species have been successful. They are supported by a boat cleaning station where powerboats are put into the water.

The lake has produced record lake trout.

See also

• Adirondack Park

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Placid (New York)
2. MacKenzie, Mary (March 17, 2000). "A rendition of the earliest known map of the local region". The Lake Placid News . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
3. "History of the SOA". Shore Owners’ Association of Lake Placid. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
4. "History". Lake Placid Legacy Sites. Retrieved October 14, 2025.

Image gallery

• 
  House on Buck Island
• 
  Whiteface Mountain from northern end of lake
• 
  New + old boathouses
• 
  House on Buck Island