In New York, things are going swimmingly. <\/p>\n
A popular getaway, just a four-hour ride north of the Big Apple, has the most pristine lake in the US.<\/p>\n
Lake George \u2014 nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes \u2014 has been deemed the cleanest and most swimmable body of water in the entire country, according to a recent study reported in Travel + Leisure.<\/a> <\/p>\n The lake up in the Adirondacks has long been nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes. Thomas \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n The water up in the Adirondacks is so pristine that New York State rates it Class AA-Special, meaning it\u2019s practically drinkable. <\/p>\n The water is clean largely due to its depth, its 32-mile-long protected watershed, and its surrounding 4,000-foot Adirondack peaks.<\/p>\n Unlike many American lakes that have been overtaken by algae blooms and runoff, Lake George is a glimmering exception. <\/p>\n Over 90% of its watershed is forest preserve, which means nature itself filters the water through wetlands and mountain streams before it ever reaches the lake.<\/p>\n And with depths plunging nearly 200 feet, the lake stays cool, clean, and perfectly transparent \u2014 no murky mystery waters here. <\/p>\n The water in Lake George is so pristine that New York State rates it Class AA-Special, meaning it\u2019s practically drinkable. David \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n But Lake George\u2019s beauty isn\u2019t just a natural coincidence \u2014 it\u2019s also thanks to the people who live there. Locals take preservation seriously: minimal fertilizer use, maintained septic systems, and eco-friendly landscaping are the norm. <\/p>\n Since 1885, the Lake George Association has been one of the nation\u2019s oldest lake protection groups, educating residents and visitors on how to keep the lake clean. Meanwhile, The Jefferson Project, a high-tech collab between RPI, IBM, and the Lake George Association, uses advanced sensors to monitor water quality and ecological threats in real time. <\/p>\n Over 90% of its watershed is forest preserve, which means nature itself filters the water through wetlands and mountain streams before it ever reaches the lake. tamas \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n And all the effort of these groups doesn\u2019t go unappreciated. People come from all over to swim from sandy beaches like the popular Million Dollar Beach, paddleboard or kayak around more than 100 forested islands, set sail on the historic Morgan cruise boat or get a little cheeky on a floating tiki bar. <\/p>\n But while the waters may be clear, vistors are urged to exercise caution given that Lake George was just named as one of the most dangerous summer vacation spots in the country. <\/a><\/p>\n According to a recent study by Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.<\/a>, the hotspot came in seventh spot on the list, due to boating accidents that can result in accidental drownings. <\/p>\n