Raquette River

Raquette River
Location
Country	United States
State	New York
Physical characteristics
Source	Raquette Lake
• location	Raquette Lake, New York
Mouth	Saint Lawrence River[1]
• location	Hogansburg, New York
• coordinates	44°59′35″N 74°41′17″W / 44.99306°N 74.68806°W / 44.99306; -74.68806
• elevation	150 ft (46 m)
Length	146 mi (235 km)
Basin size	1,253 sq mi (3,250 km2)

The Raquette River, sometimes spelled Racquette, originates at Raquette Lake^[2] in the Adirondack Mountains in the U.S. state of New York. 146 miles (235 km) long,^[3] it is the third longest river entirely in the state of New York.

The river is a popular destination for canoeing and kayaking. It passes through many natural and man-made lakes to its final destination at Akwesasne on the Saint Lawrence River. The river is the source of 27 hydroelectric plants operated by Brookfield Power, which at capacity can produce up to 181 megawatts of power.^[4]

Historically, the river was a part of the "Highway of the Adirondacks", by which it was possible to travel hundreds of miles by canoe or guideboat with short stretches of portage connecting various waterways. This route is still followed by the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-mile (1,190 km) canoe trail from Old Forge to Fort Kent in Maine. It is also the basis of the route of the Adirondack Canoe Classic, a three-day, 90-mile canoe race from Old Forge to Saranac Lake.

• 
  Raquette River at the Sweeney Carry, 1888. Photo by Seneca Ray Stoddard.
• 
  Buttermilk Falls in Hamilton County, 1914
• 
  Raquette River in Colton, New York.