Irondequoit Bay
Encyclopedia
Irondequoit Bay is a large body of water
located in northeastern Monroe County
, New York
. The bay, roughly 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) wide and 4 miles (6.4 km) in length, is fed by Irondequoit Creek
to the south and flows into Lake Ontario
at its northern end. On average, the surface of Irondequoit Bay rests at 245 feet (74.7 m) above sea level
and is 80 feet (24.4 m) deep at its deepest point a short distance north of the Irondequoit Bay Bridge
carrying the six-lane New York State Route 104
over the bay.
The center of the bay acts as the eastern border for the town of Irondequoit
and the western border of the towns of Penfield
and Webster
. The Irondequoit–Penfield boundary continues along the center of Irondequoit Creek south of the New York State Route 404
float bridge.
During the past million years there were four glacial ages that covered the Rochester
area with ice and impacted the geography of the area. The most recent glacier that left evidence here was about 100,000 years ago and it caused compression of the earth by as much as 2500 feet (762 m). About 12,000 years ago, the area underwent massive changes, which included the rerouting of the Genesee River
and other water bodies. Since the earth rebounded from the melting glaciers more rapidly in Canada than in New York, water from Lake Ontario was spilled over New York due to its lower elevation. During this time, the original outlet of the Genesee River was flooded out, creating Irondequoit Bay.
On a French map of the area from 1688 titled "Le Lac Ontario" Irondequoit Bay was referred to as the "swamp of the Senecas
". Prior to the 1840s, the bay was known as "Teoronto Bay."
Body of water
A body of water or waterbody is any significant accumulation of water, usually covering the Earth or another planet. The term body of water most often refers to large accumulations of water, such as oceans, seas, and lakes, but it may also include smaller pools of water such as ponds, puddles or...
located in northeastern Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The bay, roughly 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) wide and 4 miles (6.4 km) in length, is fed by Irondequoit Creek
Irondequoit Creek
Irondequoit Creek is a stream in eastern Monroe County, New York that feeds Irondequoit Bay. It actually begins in rural West Bloomfield in Ontario County, flowing north into the town of Mendon in Monroe County...
to the south and flows into Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
at its northern end. On average, the surface of Irondequoit Bay rests at 245 feet (74.7 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
and is 80 feet (24.4 m) deep at its deepest point a short distance north of the Irondequoit Bay Bridge
Irondequoit Bay Bridge
Irondequoit Bay Bridge is located near Rochester, New York and carries Route 104 across the Irondequoit Bay between Irondequoit and Webster near the intersection with Rt 590. According to the National Bridge Inventory the bridge was built in 1967. Its total span is with nine spans and an...
carrying the six-lane New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
over the bay.
The center of the bay acts as the eastern border for the town of Irondequoit
Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 51,692...
and the western border of the towns of Penfield
Penfield, New York
Penfield is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 36,242 at the 2010 census.The town was incorporated in 1810 by the proprietor, Daniel Penfield, who purchased the town lands in 1795 and moved to the area in 1809. Penfield is a suburb of Rochester, New York...
and Webster
Webster (town), New York
Webster is a town in the northeast corner of Monroe County, New York, United States. The town is named after orator and statesman Daniel Webster. The population was 42,641 at the 2010 census....
. The Irondequoit–Penfield boundary continues along the center of Irondequoit Creek south of the New York State Route 404
New York State Route 404
New York State Route 404 is an east–west state highway located in eastern Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It extends for just over from an interchange with NY 590 in Irondequoit to an intersection with NY 104 on the Monroe–Wayne County line in the town of Webster...
float bridge.
During the past million years there were four glacial ages that covered the Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
area with ice and impacted the geography of the area. The most recent glacier that left evidence here was about 100,000 years ago and it caused compression of the earth by as much as 2500 feet (762 m). About 12,000 years ago, the area underwent massive changes, which included the rerouting of the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
and other water bodies. Since the earth rebounded from the melting glaciers more rapidly in Canada than in New York, water from Lake Ontario was spilled over New York due to its lower elevation. During this time, the original outlet of the Genesee River was flooded out, creating Irondequoit Bay.
On a French map of the area from 1688 titled "Le Lac Ontario" Irondequoit Bay was referred to as the "swamp of the Senecas
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
". Prior to the 1840s, the bay was known as "Teoronto Bay."