Cleanest Lake in the Country Can Be Found in Upstate New York

New York is home to more than 7,600 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. One of those lakes has the honor of being named the cleanest in the country.

Where is this pristine paradise? In Upstate New York.

Lake George

Lake George is known as the “Queen of American Lakes.” It's 32 miles long and 187 feet deep and is considered one of the country’s most beautiful and cleanest lakes.

The lake was originally named the Andia-ta-roc-te by local Native Americans. It wasn't until 1755, that it was renamed Lake George for King George II.

Hot Spot for Rich & Famous

The area was a hot spot for the rich and famous back in the day. The Roosevelt, van Rensselaer, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Whitney families often visited its shores. It was also a common spot sought out by well-known artists, including Martin Johnson Heade, John F. Kensett, E. Charlton Fortune, Frank Vincent DuMond, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

Tourist Destination

Today, the Upstate New York town and lake attract tens of thousands of tourists to the southern Adirondack State Park each summer. The area generates about $2 billion in tourist dollars every year.

Whether traveling to Lake George for the beaches and camping in the summer or snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter, the area has a lot to offer in any season, including the cleanest lake in the country.