I Can’t Sleep

Finger Lakes | Calm Bedtime Reading for Sleep

34 min
Feb 20, 2026about 2 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

This episode of I Can't Sleep features a calm bedtime reading about the Finger Lakes region of New York, covering its geological formation, indigenous history, cultural significance, and modern attractions including wineries, breweries, and educational institutions.

Insights
  • The Finger Lakes were formed through multiple glaciation cycles over millions of years, with evidence of pre-glacial lake formations preserved in geological deposits
  • The region has transitioned from indigenous Iroquois dominance to European settlement and is now a major economic hub for wine production, tourism, and higher education
  • Environmental concerns about natural gas extraction led to New York's 2014 statewide fracking ban, demonstrating community-driven policy influence
  • The Finger Lakes region's unique geography—deep glacial lakes with specific north-south orientation—creates ideal conditions for wine cultivation and diverse growing environments
  • The region serves as a historical nexus for American social movements including women's suffrage, the abolitionist movement, and religious innovation
Trends
Wine industry growth in Finger Lakes with 400+ wineries leveraging lake-effect climate advantagesCraft beer industry expansion—second-highest brewery concentration in New York as of 2018Environmental activism against extractive industries leading to state-level policy changesHeritage tourism and historical site preservation driving regional economic developmentHigher education concentration as economic anchor with 15+ colleges and universities in the regionSustainable forestry and water protection initiatives balancing recreation with public healthAgritourism and farm-based experiences becoming growth industries post-1976 Farm Winery Act
Topics
Glacial geology and lake formationIroquois Confederacy and indigenous historyWine production and viticultureNatural gas extraction and fracking regulationWomen's suffrage movement historyCraft beer industryHigher education institutionsHistoric architecture and preservationAviation historyCivil War historyReligious movements and utopian communitiesWater resource managementTourism and recreationEnvironmental conservationRegional economic development
Companies
Corning Glass Works
Major employer and cultural institution in Corning, home to the Corning Museum of Glass
Cornell University
Largest Ivy League institution in the region, major economic and educational anchor
Pleasant Valley Wine Company
One of America's oldest wineries, founded 1860 on Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes AVA
Onetta Vineyard
Nation's oldest sacramental winery founded 1872, continues producing pure grape wine
People
Thomas Chamberlain
USGS geologist who published the oldest known use of 'Finger Lakes' term in 1883
R.S. Tarr
Geologist who formally established 'Finger Lakes' as proper name in 1893 GSA paper
Harriet Tubman
African-American abolitionist whose home in Auburn is a historic site in the region
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Women's rights pioneer whose home in Seneca Falls is part of the Women's Rights National Historic Park
Glenn Curtiss
Aviation pioneer whose home in Hammondsport made the area a popular glider pilot destination
Mark Twain
American author who lived in Elmira during his later life
Bishop McQuaid
Founded Onetta Vineyard in 1872, the nation's oldest sacramental winery on Hemlock Lake
Quotes
"The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long, narrow, roughly north-south lakes located in an area called the Finger Lakes region in New York in the United States."
Benjamin BosterEarly episode
"Cayuga and Seneca Lakes are among the deepest in the United States, measuring 400 feet of 635 to 618 feet, respectively, with bottoms well below sea level."
Benjamin BosterGeological section
"In December 2014, the government of New York banned all fracking in the state, citing pollution risks."
Benjamin BosterEnvironmental section
"The Iroquois were able to prevent European colonization of the Finger Lakes region for nearly two centuries after first contact, often playing the French off against the British interests in savvy demonstrations of political competence."
Benjamin BosterHistorical section
Full Transcript
You're listening to a Glassbox Media Podcast. Let's talk about those nights when sleep feels impossible to catch. I know that feeling won't do well. And if you're anything like me, sometimes you need a bit more than just winding down. That's where something like sleep magic can really make a difference. Jessica Porter, the host of Sleep Magic, has this incredible way of calming the mind with her sleep hypnosis. It's not just the relaxing tones of her voice. She tackles the tough stuff like anxiety, heartbreak, even building confidence. It's like having a sleep coach right there helping you settle in for a truly restful night. And honestly, there's over 100 episodes to choose from, so there's something for everyone. Listeners call her show life-changing and a game-changer for their sleep. I can see why she's had over 10 million downloads since 2022. There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to sleep. Some nights, you might need that bit of extra guidance to fully relax. And that's where Jessica works her magic. You get to explore different approaches and see what fits your routine best. Plus, you'll notice that her episodes aren't just about sleep. they can bring some peace in your day-to-day, too. So, if you're up for something new in your sleep journey, check out Sleep Magic. It's free and easy to find. Just search Sleep Magic on your favorite podcast app and see where it takes you. Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast, where I help you drift off one fact at a time. I'm your host, Benjamin Boster. and today's episode is about the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long, narrow, roughly north-south lakes located in an area called the Finger Lakes region in New York in the United States. This region straddles the northern and transitional edge of the northern Allegheny Plateau, known as the Finger Lakes Uplands and Gorge's Eco-Region, and the Ontario Lowlands Eco-Region of the Great Lakes Lowlands. The geological term Finger Lake refers to a long, narrow lake in an over-deepened glacial valley, while the proper name Finger Lakes goes back to the late 19th century. Cayuga and Seneca Lakes are among the deepest in the United States, measuring 400 feet of 635 to 618 feet, respectively, with bottoms well below sea level. Though none of the lake's widths exceed 3.5 miles, Seneca Lake is 38.1 miles long, and at 66.9 square miles is the largest in total area. The origin of the name Finger Lakes is uncertain. Currently, the oldest known published use of Finger Lakes for this group of 11 lakes is in a United States Geological Survey paper by Thomas Chamberlain that was published in 1883. This paper was later cited and Finger Lakes formally used as a proper name by R.S. Tarr in a Geological Society of American paper published in 1893. Older usage of finger legs in either maps, papers, reports, or any other documents remains to be verified. The eleven finger legs from west to east are Kinesis, Hemlock, Canadeis, Hanyoy, Canadegua, Kiuca, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Scaniatlas, and Otisco. Seneca, Cayuga, Scaniatlas, Owasco, Keuka, and Canadegua are considered the major Finger Lakes, while Ginesis, Hemlock, Canadeis, Oneyoi, and Otisco are considered the minor Finger Lakes. Numerous nearby lakes have been excluded from the traditional list of the lakes. All 11 are part of the Lake Ontario drainage basin. Wanetta and Lomoka Lakes, located southeast of Kewka Lake, are sometimes called the Fingernail Lakes, but are part of the Susquehanna River watershed, training into a tributary of the Chemung River. Silver Lake, which has the same geological characteristics as the Finger Lakes, and is sometimes regarded as the 12th Finger Lake, has traditionally been excluded due to its distance from the others, west of the Genesee River. Onondaga Lake and Cozanovia Lake to the east have similarly been excluded. Oneida Lake to the northeast of Syracuse is sometimes included as the thumb, although it is shallow and somewhat different in character from the rest. These glacial Finger Lakes originated as a series of northward flowing streams. Around two million years ago, the area was glaciated by the first of many continental glaciers, as the Laurentide ice sheet moved southward from the Hudson Bay area. During the glacial maximums, subglacial meltwater and glacial ice widened, deepened, and accentuated the existing river valleys. to form subglacial tunnel valleys. Glacial debris, possibly terminal moraine left behind by the receding ice, acted as dams, allowing lakes to form. Despite the deep erosion of the valleys, the surrounding uplands show little evidence of glaciation, suggesting the ice was thin or at least unable to cause much erosion at higher elevations. The deep cutting by glacial erosion left some tributaries hanging high above the lakes. Both Seneca and Cayuga have tributaries hanging as much as 120 meters above the valley floors. Based on sediment cores seismic stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates the Finger Lakes became ice about 14 BP calendar At this time scouring by ice and meltwater ceased and these lakes filled initially with proglacial lake rhythmites. The deposition of proglacial lake rhythmites occurred between 14,400 and 13,900 BP calendar. After the margins of the Laurentide ice sheet retreated into the Ontario lowlands after a 13,900 BP calendar, The accumulation at first of massive gray clays, followed by dark gray to black laminated organic rich muds, accumulated without interruption until present within the Finger Lakes. Detailed studies of marine isotope stage 3 and 4 age sediments exposed at a locality called the Great Gully on the eastern flank of the Cayuga Lake near Union Springs, New York record the presence of a paleo lake that existed prior to Cayuga Lake. This paleo lake, which is called Glacial Lake Nanette, was a pro-glacial lake that filled the Bedrock Valley, currently occupied by Cayuga Lake, from about 50,000 BP calibrated until it was overridden by a glacial readvance that occurred prior to 30,000 BP calendar and buried it beneath younger glacial till. This research shows that bedrock valleys in which the Finger Lakes lie existed prior to the last glacial maximum and developed over multiple glaciations. Finally, although subglacial scour during the last glacial maximum remove the majority of pre-existing sediment down to the bedrock bottoms of the Finger Lakes, Patches of interglacial deposits are likely preserved locally within or near hanging valleys on the margins of their valleys For example, the principal site that has been well studied is the Fembank exposure of interglacial deposits on the west margin of Cayuga This deposit provides direct evidence that some version of Cayuga Lake and its bedrock valley existed prior to last glacial maximum. Much of the Finger Lakes area lies upon the Marcellus Shale and the Utica Shale, two prominent natural gas reserves. Due to the recent increase in fracking technology, the natural gas is now accessible for extraction. While some large landowners have leased their lands, and a number of small landowners would like to follow suit, Many residents of the Finger Lakes opposed the fracking process due to concerns about groundwater contamination and the industrial impact of the extraction-related activities. The first direct actions and local legislative actions against fracking occurred in the Finger Lakes bioregion. In December 2014, the government of New York banned all fracking in the state, citing pollution risks. The Finger Lakes region is a central part of the Iroquois homeland. The Iroquois tribes include the Seneca and Cayuga Nations, for which the two largest Finger Lakes are named. The Tuscarora tribe lived in the Finger Lakes region as well, from circa 1720. The Onondaga and Oneida tribes lived at the eastern edge of the region, closer to their namesake lakes, Oneida Lake and Ondaga Lake. The easternmost Iroquois tribe was the Mohawk. The Finger Lakes region contains sites of unknown cultural affiliation and age. The Bluff Point stone works as one such site, as its age and who may have constructed these enigmatic stone structures, has not been determined. During colonial times, many other tribes moved to the Finger Lakes region, seeking the protection of the Iroquois. For example, in 1753, remnants of several Virginia Siouxan tribes, collectively called the Tutulo Saponi, moved to the town of Cororganel at the south end of Cayuga Lake. near present-day ishaca and lived there until seventeen seventy nine when their village was destroyed by the sullivan expedition Iroquois towns in the Finger Lakes region included the Seneca town of Geneseo, Canada Saga, Seneca Castle, near present-day Geneva, Coyoguin, Cayuga Castle, east of Cayuga Lake, Chonodote, Cayuga Town, present-day Aurora, Catherine's Town, near present-day Watkins Glen, and Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, New York. As one of the most powerful Indian nations during colonial times, the Iroquois were able to prevent European colonization of the Finger Lakes region for nearly two centuries after first contact, often playing the French off against the British interests in savvy demonstrations of political competence. The renowned ingenuity and adaptability of the Iroquois people were key tools of resistance against hostile European powers, rapidly spreading throughout North America, eager to dominate and increasingly brutal toward Native Americans in the Finger Lakes and beyond. By the late 18th century was the French governmental influence gone from Canada. Iroquois power had weakened relative to the steady growth in European Americans' populations and internal strife eroded the political unity of the Iroquois Confederacy as it faced pressures from the colonists itching to move west and a desire to keep them out of Amerindian lands. During the American Revolutionary War, some Iroquois sided with the British and some with the Americans, resulting in civil war among the Iroquois. In the late 1770s British Iroquois attacked various American frontier settlements prompting counterattacks culminating in the Sullivan Expedition of 1779 which destroyed most of the Iroquois towns and effectively broke Iroquois power After the Revolutionary War, the Iroquois and other Indians of the region were assigned reservations. Most of their land, including the Finger Lakes region, was opened up to purchase and settlement. Roughly, the western half of the Finger Lakes region comprised the Phelps and Gorham Purchase of 1790. the region was rapidly settled at the turn of the nineteenth century largely by a westward migration from new england and to a lesser degree by northward influx from pennsylvania the regional architecture reflects these area traditions of the federal and greek revival periods The Finger Lakes region, together with the Genesee country of western New York, has been referred to as the Burned Over District. There, in the 19th century, the Second Great Awakening was a revival of Christianity. Some new religions were also formed. The region was active in reform and utopian movements. many of its underground railroad sites have been documented for example the harriet tubman home at auburn recalls the life and work of the african-american moses of her people on the northern end of the finger legs are also seneca falls the birthplace of the women's suffrage movement waterloo the birthplace of memorial day and Palmyra, the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An annual outdoor drama, the Hill Cumorah Pageant, produced by the Church, draws thousands of visitors each year. Hammonsport was the home of aviation pioneer Glenn Curtis, and favorable air currents make the area a popular spot for glider pilots. Elmira, just to the south, was the home of Mark Twain in his later life, and the site of an infamous Civil War prison. Corning is most noted as the home of Corning Glass Works and the Corning Museum of Glass. Cornell, just southwest of the Finger Lakes, was a major railroad center. Locomotives were repaired there for many years, and rail passenger cars are built there today. Kinesis remains the home of the oldest producer of pure grape sacramental wine in the Western Hemisphere. Notable among the historic buildings of the region is the Granger Homestead, 1816, a large village house in federal style at Canandaigua, New York. Another example of the federal style is the Prouty Chew House, 1829, at Geneva, portions of which were altered at various times in new fashions. Three Greek Revival mansions are situated near three lakes. The Richard de Zang House, Scaniatlas, 1839 Rose Hill, Geneva, 1839 and Esperanza Penian, 1838 The latter two are open to the public. The Steward House in Auburn, a National Historic Landmark is a mansion more characteristic of the Civil War era, virtually unchanged from the 19th century. Belhurst Castle, Geneva, a stone mansion in the Romanesque revival style, now serves as an inn. Sonnenberg Mansion at Canandaigua is a later 19th century residence and the Queen Anne style, known for its restored period gardens. Geneva on the lake is a villa, 1910-1914, that recalls those on Italian lakes. Now an inn, it has European-style gardens. Many buildings and historic districts of the Finger Lakes regions are notable, in addition to these historic houses. Implemented in August 2010, the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest covers 6,684 acres that encompass the two western Finger Lakes, Hemlock and Canadice. These lakes have provided drinking water for the city of Rochester for more than 100 years. To protect water quality, the city acquired much of the property around the lakes. Over the decades, the land reforested, but a few traces of its past, such as stone walls or cottage foundations, remain. Today, these two lakes, with their steep, forested, largely undeveloped shorelines and deep, clear water, provide visitors a glimpse of the Finger Lakes of the past. The Department of Environmental Conservation manages this state forest for compatible public access for recreation, including fishing, hunting, nature study, boating, and hiking. Activities in Hemlock and Adai State Forest are subject to the DEC's Rules and Regulations for the Use of State Lands, 6 NYCRR Part 190, as well as any other applicable state statutes, rules, and regulations. These are sensitive areas because they protect public drinking water. The 584-mile Finger Lakes Trail and its branch trails run through the southern portion of the Finger Lakes region and also constitute a portion of the 4,600-mile North Country National Scenic Trail. Hemlock Lake is home to the state's oldest nesting bald eagle site, dating back to the early 1960s. The nesting bald eagles of Hemlock Lake have fostered a resurgence of bald eagles throughout New York State. Hemlock Lake originally known as Onida which is Seneca for Lake of Hemlock Trees is home to the nation oldest sacramental winery founded by Bishop McQuaid in 1872 Today, Oneda Vineyard continues to make premium natural pure grape wine for churches and foodies alike. The Finger Lakes region is New York's largest wine-producing region. Over 400 wineries and vineyards surround Seneca, Cayuga, Canandaigua, Keuka, Kinesis, and Hemlock Lakes. Because of the lake's great depth, they provide a lake effect to the lush vineyards that flank their shores. Due to the size and concentration of these lakes, the region retains residual summer warmth in the winter and winters cold in the spring. As a result, the grapes are protected from disastrous spring frost during shoot growth and early frost before the harvest. Additionally, due to the long, narrow north-to-south positioning of the Finger Lakes, the slopes on the east and the west side provide for variations in sunlight exposure, temperature, soil, and more. This leads to a great diversity of growing environments within the region, and ultimately in the yielded wine. with the passage of the farm winery act in nineteen seventy six numerous wineries are now open to visitors wineries are a growth industry of the region contributing through their production and by attracting visitors the finger lakes american viticulture area ava includes two of america's oldest wineries Onetta Vineyard, 1872, on Hemlock Lake, and the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, 1860, on Keuka Lake. Aside from wine, the Finger Lakes craft beer industry has grown significantly in recent years. In 2018, the region was home to the second-highest number of breweries in New York, after the Hudson Valley. The area is also known for higher education learning. The largest is Ivy League Institution Cornell University in Ithaca. Other notable schools are Ithaca College, also in Ithaca. Syracuse University SUNY Upstate Medical University State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Le Moyne College in Syracuse SUNY Cortland in Cortland Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, Issaca in Cortland Wells College in Aurora Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva Keuka College in Keuka Park Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua in Geneva New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls and Cayuga Community College in Auburn Nearby the Finger Lakes is Binghamton University, SUNY The University of Rochester, Nazareth College, St. John Fisher University, Roberts Wesleyan University, Monroe Community College, and Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester. Elmira College in Elmira, Corning Community College in Corning, and the State University of New York at Geneseo. The Finger Lakes region is home to several museums. These include the Corning Museum of Glass, the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Glenn H. Curtis Museum, the Finger Lakes Bodie Museum, The Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, the Science Center, the Museum of the Earth, the National Soaring Museum, the Rockwell Museum, the Seward House Museum, the William H. Seward and the Samuel Warren Homesteads of the New York Historical Society, birthplace of New York State's first successful commercial winery. The Women's Rights National Historic Park is in Seneca Falls. The park includes the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Wesleyan Chapel, where she held the first convention on women's rights in 1848. Kinesis Lake is a finger lake in Livingston County in western New York State. The fifth smallest of 11. It is located off Interstate 390. It is located off Interstate 390, about 15 miles south of Interstate 90. Kinesis Lake is 8 miles long, with a maximum depth of 66 feet. It flows south to north, from its inlet in the town of Kinesis, to its outlet, Kinesis Creek in Lakeville, a hamlet in the town of Livonia in Livingston County. Kinesis Creek, in turn, flows into the Genesee River near Avon. The first steamboat on Kinesis Lake was named the Jesse, launched July 1, 1874. On July 3 of each year, the residents of the lake participate in a tradition called the Ring of Fire, sponsored by the Kinesis Lake Association. Participants light road flares around the lake and shoot off fireworks. The festivities typically start at dusk with approximately 10,000 flares lit at 10 p.m. When frozen over in the winter, Kinesis Lake is used for snowmobiling and ice fishing. Fish species present in the lake include walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and tiger muskie. Access is available via state-owned hard surface ramp off East Lake Road, a state-owned hand launch access on Pebble Beach Road in the hamlet of Lakeville. a state-owned hand-launch access on US-20A in the hamlet of Lakeville, or at a car-top launch access on the south shore off NY-256.