There is an old Indian Legend about the Finger Lakes and how they were created. Here is an excerpt from "Friends of the Fingerlakes" website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Hand of the Great Spirit It is said that the Finger Lakes were made by the impression of the hand of the Great Spirit on central New York State. However there are six major Finger Lakes; west to east they are Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco and Skaneateles.      As told in Iroquois legend, the Great God Manitou wanted to reward the Iroquois Confederacy for their courage in battle and their devotion to the Great Spirit. He decided to bring part of their happy hunting ground down from the heavens.      According to the legend, there are six Finger Lakes because the hand of Manitou slipped when he was pushing the portion of Indian Paradise down from the heavens, causing six indentations that later became the lakes. Excerpt from "Legends and Stories of the Finger Lakes Region" by: Emerson Klees