Chesuncook Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chesuncook Lake |
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 Chesuncook Lake
Location in Maine
Chesuncook Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Piscataquis County, Maine |
| Coordinates | 45°59′14″N 69°20′27″W / 45.98722°N 69.34083°W |
| Type | Mesotrophic |
| Catchment area | 1,420 square miles (3,700 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 22.5 miles (36.2 km) |
| Max. width | 1–4 mi (1.6–6.4 km) |
| Surface area | 25,183 acres (101.91 km2) |
| Average depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Max. depth | 150 feet (46 m) |
| Water volume | 136,667 acre⋅ft (168,576,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 6 months |
| Surface elevation | 942 feet (287 m) |
| Islands | Gero Island |
| Settlements | Chesuncook Township, T2 R12 WELS, T3 R11 WELS, T3 R12 WELS |
Chesuncook Lake is a large reservoir in Piscataquis County, Maine. A reservoir is a lake that people create, usually by building a dam. This lake is found in a very wild area called the North Maine Woods. It was formed when dams were built on the West Branch Penobscot River in 1835, 1903, and 1916. Chesuncook Lake is about 22 miles (35 km) long and 1 to 4 miles wide. It covers an area of 25,183 acres (101.91 km2) and can be as deep as 150 feet (46 m). It is the third-largest freshwater body in all of Maine.
The name "Chesuncook" comes from an old Abenaki word. It means "goose place." The word combines schunk, which sounds like the call of a Canada goose, with auke, meaning "place." Even though it's called "goose place," Henry David Thoreau didn't see any geese when he visited in 1853. He wrote about the lake in his book "The Maine Woods."
The lake became much bigger when the Ripogenus Dam was built in 1916. This dam caused the water to cover other smaller lakes and ponds. Because the water levels now change a lot due to making hydroelectricity, the lake is not as good for Lake trout as it used to be.
Chesuncook Lake is also part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. This is a long water trail for canoes and kayaks.
Chesuncook Village
Chesuncook Village is a small community located on the northwestern shore of Chesuncook Lake. Only about 10 people live there all year round. The rest of the lake area is mostly empty. This village is in a very remote part of Maine. It's considered one of the last true wilderness areas on the East Coast of the United States.
The village is about 60 miles from the nearest towns, Greenville and Millinocket, Maine. There are no power lines or other modern services here. It is completely "off-grid." The state of Maine maintains a public pasture and a boat launch area in the village. There is also a meeting house that is used by churches and as a shelter for travelers.
Village History
Chesuncook Village was started in 1849 by Ansel A. Smith. It began as a place for logging operations.
The historic Chesuncook Lake House Inn was built in 1864. It is still open today, more than 150 years later! The Lake House is located right on the shore of Chesuncook Lake. From there, you can see Mount Katahdin in the distance. This inn is one of the few remaining "logging hotels" from the past. These hotels were built about every 14 miles. This was the distance a logger could walk in one day. They provided food and shelter for loggers, travelers, and sportsmen like Henry David Thoreau.
Most of the village is made up of private seasonal camps. There are also a few homes for people who live there all year. In 2003, Chesuncook Village celebrated a special anniversary. It was 150 years since Henry David Thoreau's book "The Maine Woods" was first published.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Chesuncook para niños
