Rensselaer Lake

Rensselaer Lake
View across the lake from southeast
Rensselaer Lake
LocationAlbany, New York
Coordinates42°41′51″N 73°49′57″W / 42.6975°N 73.8325°W / 42.6975; -73.8325
Typeartificial
Primary outflowsPatroon Creek
Basin countriesUnited States
Managing agencyCity of Albany
Built1851
Surface area35.3 acres (14.3 ha)
Average depth11 ft (3.4 m)
Max. depth23 ft (7.0 m)
Water volume16 million gal (610,000 m3)
Shore length12.6 mi (4.2 km)
Surface elevation269 ft (82 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Rensselaer Lake is an artificial lake in Albany, New York, United States named for Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer, last patroon of Rensselaerswyck. The lake was Albany's first municipally-owned source of water. It is part of a 57-acre (23 ha) park and the state's Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The lake and park have been under the purview of the Albany Water Authority since 2003.