While this is a well attended and fun event, I hope that everyone will see more than the wine. There are beautiful lake views, hills of grape vines, blossoms of purple wisteria, and lots of sunshine!
Seneca Lake, the second longest of the Finger Lakes is named for one of the Iroquois Nations. The name means "People of the Great Hill". The Lake is 38 miles long, and at the southern tip, sits Watkins Glen.
Seneca Lake is the "Lake Trout Capital of the World"! Because the Lake is so deep, it doesn't freeze. The average depth is 291 feet, and at the deepest point is between 625-798 feet deep, depending on who you ask. At one time, it was used as a submarine test site because of the depth. The water is basically cold, but in the summer, the top 10-15 feet warms up to 70 to 80 degrees.
If you could go back in time, you would find this area was the center of Seneca Indian Nation. In the 16th Century or earlier, the Iroquois League was formed by the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca Nations. The Tuscaroro Nation joined later. Iroquois ancestors have lived in the Finger Lakes area since at least 1000 AD. "Iroquois" translates to "People of the Longhouse".
At the height of their power in the 17th Century, there were about 12000 Iroquois. Iroquois villages dotted these shores. The Iroquois were known to be great farmers, fishers and hunters. Deer were plentiful in the area. "The Three Sisters", corn/beans/squash were the mainstays. During the Revolutionary War, most were wiped out when the villages and crops were burned to the ground. An epidemic of smallpox that came from French Traders also dimished their numbers.
White settlers arrived in the area around 1790. Life was hard for these settlers, until the 1820's when the Erie Canal was opened, and the area was perfect for trading. The remaining Iroquois lived peacefully among the settlers, and remain in the area today. Currently in New York State, there are about 17,000 Iroquois, with about 7,500 being Seneca decendents.
