What is New Jersey's deepest lake?

With an entire ocean at our doorstep and 120 miles of Atlantic coastline, most attention to watersports is focused on "the shore".

New Jersey is also home to many lakes and ponds that provide plenty of activity and pleasure for hundreds of thousands of people in the Garden State. There are about 1,700 lakes in our state.

That seems like a big number, but many of them are man-made.

In general, the lakes in the northern part of the state are much larger and deeper than the southern end. This has mostly to do with topography.

The northern end of the state is more mountainous and South Jersey is basically flat.

When they dammed up some waterways to create reservoirs and lakes up north the geography of the hills and mountains naturally made for deeper lakes.

In my area of Medford and Medford Lakes where these are generally man-made, the average depth is no more than 4 to 10 feet under normal conditions.

The deepest lake in the southern end of New Jersey is Union Lake at 27 feet at its deepest point.

Union Lake via Google Maps

The winner for the deepest lake in the state goes to Merrill Creek Reservoir in rural Harmony Township in Warren County.

It is not the largest but it is the deepest at 225 feet and was created in 1998 from water coming through a tunnel connected to the Delaware River.

Merrill Creek Reservoir via Google Maps

New Jersey's largest is Lake Hopatcong has a maximum depth of about 58 feet but covers some 2,400 acres and four-square miles in Morris and Sussex Counties.

Lake Hopatcong via Google Maps

Rounding out the top five largest lakes in the state are Round Valley Reservoir, Wanaque Reservoir, Greenwood Lake and Spruce Run Reservoir. All of these offer great water sports and excellent fishing for natural species.

Round Valley Reservoir via Google Maps

Wanaque Reservoir via Google Maps

Greenwood Lake via Google Maps

Spruce Run Reservoir via Google Maps

We take for granted how lucky we are to have an ocean in our backyard, but also some pretty nice lakes and ponds as well.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Dennis Malloy only.

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These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey

A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.

From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.

Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the American Hiking Society.

If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.

Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.

You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.

Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.

If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.

Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.

I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:

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Source: What is New Jersey’s deepest lake?