Page "Oneida Lake" Paragraph 2

The lake is about 21 miles ( 33 km ) long and about 5 miles ( 8. 7 km ) wide with an average depth of 22 feet ( 6. 4 m ).

The shoreline is about 55 miles ( 89 km ).

Portions of six counties and sixty-nine communities are in the watershed.

Oneida Creek, which flows past the cities of Oneida and Sherrill, empties into the southeast part of the lake at South Bay.

While not included as one of the Finger Lakes, Oneida is sometimes referred to as their " thumb ".

Because it is shallow, it is warmer than the deeper Finger Lakes in summer, and freezes solidly in winter.

It is relatively safe and popular for the winter sports of ice fishing and snowmobiling.