Messalonskee Lake is a body of water in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine. It is bordered by the towns of Oakland, Sidney, and Belgrade. The lake is a 9 miles (14 km) long, narrow, natural creation, resulting from continental collision and glacial scouring. A dam originally built in the town of Oakland in 1905 increased the lake's size.
| Messalonskee Lake | |
|---|---|
| Snow Pond | |
.jpg) Postcard view | |
  Messalonskee Lake  Messalonskee Lake | |
 | |
| Location | Belgrade Lakes Region, Maine |
| Coordinates | 44°29′N 69°47′W / 44.48°N 69.79°W |
| Type | Dimictic, marginally eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Belgrade Stream |
| Primary outflows | Messalonskee Stream |
| Catchment area | 177 sq mi (460 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 8.3 mi (13.4 km) |
| Max. width | 1.4 mi (2.3 km) |
| Surface area | 3,510 acres (1,419 ha) |
| Average depth | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Max. depth | 113 ft (34 m) |
| Water volume | 110,427 acre⋅ft (136,210,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 0.63 years |
| Shore length1 | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Surface elevation | 234 ft (71 m) |
| Frozen |
|
| Islands |
|
| Settlements | |
| References | [1][2][3] |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
In the first part of the 20th century, Messalonskee Stream provided waterpower for Oakland's Cascade Woolen Mill, as well as for a number of factories responsible for Oakland's long-defunct title as "axehead capital of the world."
Messalonskee Lake is home to a great variety of wildlife, including great blue herons, bass, yellow perch, white perch, sunfish, painted and snapping turtles, loons, and occasionally Bald Eagles can be seen soaring above the lake. The surrounding community has recently formed the Messalonskee Lake Association in the interest of its protection and preservation.
Like some Maine lakes, Messalonskee Lake has seen infestations of Milfoil.[4]
The lake is also more commonly called "Snow Pond", a reference to Philip Snow who settled in the area in 1774.[5]
Many summer camps and related tourist accommodations are located on Messalonskee Lake, among them the New England Music Camp, which was founded in 1937.
References
edit- ^ "Historical Ice-Out Dates for 29 Lakes in New England" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Maine Lakes: Geographic & Morphometric Information". Maine Dept. Environmental Protection, Maine Dept. Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Maine Office of GIS, Augusta, Maine. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Land Use Patterns in Relation to Lake Water Quality in the Messalonskee Lake Watershed" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Messalonskee Lake Association". Archived from the original on 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03. Messalonskee Lake Association Milfoil Program
- ^ Henry D. Kingsbury; Simeon L. Deyo (1892). Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1799-1892. H.W. Blake & Company. pp. 994–996.