Chocorua Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chocorua Lake |
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The lake with the summit of Mount Chocorua casting a reflection
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 Chocorua Lake
Location in New Hampshire
Chocorua Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Carroll County, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°54′02″N 71°14′14″W / 43.90056°N 71.23722°W |
| Primary inflows | Chocorua River, Stratton Brook |
| Primary outflows | Chocorua River |
| Catchment area | 13.2 sq mi (34 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.1 mi (1.8 km) |
| Max. width | 3,500 ft (1,100 m) |
| Surface area | 222 acres (90 ha) |
| Average depth | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Surface elevation | 574 ft (175 m) |
| Settlements | Chocorua (town of Tamworth) |
Chocorua Lake is a beautiful lake located in the northeastern part of New Hampshire. It offers amazing views of Mount Chocorua, especially when the mountain's reflection appears on the calm water.
The lake is about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) long from north to south. It is widest at 3,500 feet (1.1 km) from east to west. Chocorua Lake covers an area of 222 acres (890,000 m²) and its deepest point is 27 feet (8.2 meters). People love this lake for its peaceful and quiet setting. There are very few buildings around it, which keeps its natural beauty unspoiled.
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Where is Chocorua Lake?
Chocorua Lake is located in the town of Tamworth, New Hampshire. It is in the eastern-central part of New Hampshire. The lake is part of the larger Ossipee Lake watershed, which is a system of connected waterways. It sits just south of the White Mountains region.
The area around the lake, about 13.2 square miles (34.2 km²), is mostly protected forest. This land is managed by the United States Forest Service. The main river flowing into the lake is the Chocorua River from the north. This river collects water from the southern side of Mount Chocorua. Another stream, Stratton Brook, flows into the west side of the lake.
Water flows out of Chocorua Lake to the south. It goes through Little Chocorua Lake and then through a dam. This dam helps keep the lake's water level steady at 574 feet (175 meters) above sea level. The water from Chocorua Lake eventually joins the Bearcamp River. From there, it flows into Ossipee Lake, then the Saco River, and finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Maine.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
Chocorua Lake is a great place for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy swimming in its clear waters. It's also a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking. If you like to fish, you can try your luck here too!
To keep the lake peaceful and clean, there are some rules:
- You cannot use any kind of Outboard motor on the lake.
- Campfires and cooking fires are not allowed on the lake's shore.
You can get your canoe or kayak into the water from two main spots. One is called The Grove, located off New Hampshire Route 16 on the east side of the lake. The other is near the bridge on the south end of the lake. There are also beaches along Route 16 on the east side where you can swim. If you love to hike, you'll find many trails around the lake. Some of the most famous trails lead up to the top of Mount Chocorua, just north of the lake.
Animals and Plants
Chocorua Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. Some of the fish you might find here include:
Many bird species also live near or visit the lake. You might spot amazing birds like the bald eagle, the loon, and the osprey.
Keeping the Lake Healthy
Chocorua Lake is a very special but also very delicate lake. It's quite shallow, with an average depth of only 12 feet (3.7 meters) and a maximum depth of 27 feet (8.2 meters). Because it's so shallow, sunlight can reach almost all the way to the bottom. This means that even a small amount of nutrients can cause plants and algae to grow very quickly. When too many plants grow, they can block sunlight and use up the oxygen in the water. This can lead to problems like dead zones, where there isn't enough oxygen for fish and other lake creatures to survive.
In the past, things like too much building around the lake and rainwater runoff from New Hampshire Route 16 brought extra nutrients, like phosphorus, into the lake. This caused a lot of algae, lily pads, and other plants to grow too fast. As a result, the water became less clear.
To protect the lake, several groups teamed up. These included the Chocorua Lake Association (CLA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), and the Town of Tamworth. In September 2000, they started a project called the "Berms and Swales Project." They built special structures like berms (raised banks) and swales (ditches) to control runoff. These structures help filter out sediments and nutrients before they reach the lake.
Thanks to this important teamwork, the amount of phosphorus nutrients in the lake has dropped by 82% since 2000! This success story has even been highlighted on the EPA's website.
The Lake's Natural Beauty
One of the most amazing things about Chocorua Lake is its natural setting. It's surrounded by thick forests, and you can hardly see any human buildings. This is quite rare today, as many lakes are surrounded by houses, restaurants, hotels, and docks.
This natural look is mostly thanks to special agreements called conservation easements. These are written into the property deeds of about 60 landowners around the lake. These agreements help protect the forested areas around the lake, keeping them natural and beautiful.
Looking north from the lake, you get a stunning view of the bare, rocky top of Mount Chocorua. The mountain stands tall at 3,490 feet (1,064 meters). On most clear days, you can see the mountain's reflection perfectly on the lake's surface, creating amazing photo opportunities.
