{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Bantam Lake | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | image = Bantam Lake, Morris CT.jpg | image_size = 280 | alt = | caption = Bantam Lake | image_bathymetry = | alt_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Border of Morris, Connecticut and Litchfield, Connecticut | group = | coordinates = {{coord|41.7045073|-73.2215068|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-CT|display=inline, title}} <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|205246|Bantam Lake}}</ref> | type = Lake | etymology = | part_of = | inflow = Bantam River | rivers = | outflow = Bantam River | oceans = | catchment = | basin_countries = | agency = | designation = | date-built = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water --> | engineer = | date-flooded = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water --> | length = {{convert|2.32|mi}} | width = {{convert|1.47|mi}} | area = {{convert|947|acre}}<ref name=bathymetry/><ref name=launch/> | depth = {{convert|14.3|ft}}<ref name=quality/> | max-depth = {{convert|25|ft}}<ref name=quality/> | volume = | residence_time = 108 days<ref name=quality/> | salinity = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|892|ft}}<ref name=gnis/> | temperature_high = | temperature_low = | frozen = | islands = Deer Island | islands_category = | sections = | trenches = | benches = | cities = | pushpin_map = Connecticut | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Connecticut | pushpin_label_position = <!-- left, right, top or bottom --> | pushpin_map_alt = | website = | reference = }} {{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=12|id=Q18148874|type=shape|stroke-color=#808080|fill=#808080|fill-opacity=0.0|text=Interactive map of Bantam Lake}} '''Bantam Lake''' is the largest natural lake in Connecticut, covering {{convert|947|acre}} in the towns of Morris and Litchfield. Much of the land at the northern end of the lake, including the peninsula of Marsh Point, is protected by the White Memorial Foundation and home to a wide array of bird species.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ctvisit.com/beach/bantam-lake/summary/6247 | title=Bantam Lake | date=19 May 2014 | publisher=Connecticut Office of Tourism | accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref> It is lined by campgrounds,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitememorialcc.org/campgrounds.html |title=White Memorial Foundation Family Campgrounds |publisher=White Memorial Conservation Center, Inc. |accessdate=15 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829034122/http://www.whitememorialcc.org/campgrounds.html |archivedate=29 August 2014 }}</ref> camps for kids and has facilities for various water sports.<ref name=":0" /> The lake also has two public beaches, Morris Town Beach<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.townofmorrisct.com/nm/templates/pages-visitors.aspx?articleid=22&zoneid=2|title=Town of Morris Connecticut|website=www.townofmorrisct.com|access-date=2016-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918021120/http://www.townofmorrisct.com/nm/templates/pages-visitors.aspx?articleid=22&zoneid=2|archive-date=2016-09-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Sandy Beach.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://bantamlakect.com/|title=Bantam Lake Protective Association – Connecticut's Largest Natural Lake|website=bantamlakect.com|access-date=2016-09-15}}</ref>
It is home to the Bantam Lake Ski Club,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bantam Lake Ski Club |url=http://www.bantamlakeskiclub.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820194359/https://bantamlakeskiclub.com/ |archive-date=2023-08-20 |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=bantamlakeskiclub.com}}</ref> the oldest, continuously operating water ski club in the United States, as well as the Litchfield Hills Rowing Club<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://litchfieldhillsrc.org/ |title=Litchfield Hills Rowing Club | on Bantam Lake, Connecticut |access-date=2022-06-25 |archive-date=2015-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308173140/http://litchfieldhillsrc.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> which offers Summer and Fall (high school) and Masters programs.
==References== {{reflist|2|refs= <ref name=bathymetry>{{cite web |url=http://cteco.uconn.edu/maps/lake/bathymetry/Bathymetry_Bantam_Lake.pdf |title=Bantam Lake |publisher=Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |date=September 2011 |accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name=launch>{{cite web | url=http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2686&q=507904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010415/http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2686&q=507904 | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 11, 2018 | title=Bantam Lake Boat Launch | publisher=Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |date=May 3, 2018 | accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name=quality>{{cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1995/4098/report.pdf |title=Water-Quality Characteristics of Selected Public Recreational Lakes and Ponds in Connecticut |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |date=1995 |page=37 |accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref> }}
== External links== *[http://bantamlakect.com Lake Association] *[http://www.bantamskiclub.com Ski Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820194359/https://bantamlakeskiclub.com/ |date=2023-08-20 }}
{{Housatonic River Watershed}} {{Connecticut lakes and ponds}}
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Category:Lakes of Connecticut Category:Lakes of Litchfield County, Connecticut