Crystal Lake (Gilmanton, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Lake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Crystal Lake
Location in New Hampshire
Crystal Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Gilmanton, Belknap County, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°26′36″N 71°18′41″W / 43.44333°N 71.31139°W |
| Primary inflows | Nelson Brook |
| Primary outflows | Suncook River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2.8 mi (4.5 km) |
| Max. width | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) |
| Surface area | 455 acres (1.8 km2) |
| Average depth | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Max. depth | 53 ft (16 m) |
| Surface elevation | 623 ft (190 m) |
| Settlements | Gilmanton Ironworks (town of Gilmanton) |
Crystal Lake is a beautiful 455-acre (1.8 km2) lake in central New Hampshire, USA. It's located in Gilmanton, a town in Belknap County. This lake is where the Suncook River begins its journey.
Water flows into Crystal Lake from the Belknap Range through smaller lakes like Manning and Sunset lakes. Streams such as Nelson Brook, Wasson Brook, and Mill Brook also feed into it. Water leaves the lake through a dam at its southern end. It then flows into the Suncook Lakes and the Suncook River, which eventually joins the Merrimack River.
Mostly, you'll see summer cottages along the shore, though some people live there all year. From the lake's edge, you can spot mountains like Belknap Mountain and Mount Major.
Contents
Weather Around Crystal Lake
In summer, the temperature usually reaches about 80 °F (27 °C) (27°C) during the day. It cools to around 65 °F (18 °C) (18°C) at night. Winter days are colder, usually around 28 °F (−2 °C) (-2°C), dropping to about 15 °F (−9 °C) (-9°C) at night. Sometimes it can get as warm as 50 °F (10 °C) (10°C) or as cold as −20 °F (−29 °C) (-29°C) in winter.
The lake's surface water gets warmest in late July and early August, around 80 °F (27 °C) (27°C). By the end of the year, the lake usually freezes solid.
Fun Activities at the Lake
There's a public boat launch, a park, and a beach at the southern end of Crystal Lake. Every year, there are festivals and fireworks during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. These events take place in the park by the lake.
Other yearly events include a boat parade, a sailboat race, and "Illuma-Night." You can use motorized boats on the lake. Fishing is popular all year round. In summer, people enjoy water skiing, kayaking, sailing, and Jet Skiing. When winter arrives, Ice fishing becomes a common activity.
The lake is home to many fish species. You might find rainbow trout, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, yellow perch, and sunfish.
A Look at Crystal Lake's Past
Native American people called Crystal Lake "Suncook." This name referred to both the lake and the Suncook River that starts there. Early settlers later called it Lougee's Pond, named after the Lougee family who lived on the western side of the lake.
There was enough Iron in and around Crystal Lake to make people interested in mining it. Records show mining activity dating back to 1778. The town that grew up at the lake's outlet is now called Gilmanton Ironworks.
In the early 1900s, a resort called "The Pines" was built on the southern part of Crystal Lake. Sadly, the resort later burned down and was never rebuilt.
Wildlife Around Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake is a special place for common loons. You can often see them nesting here during the summer months. Bald eagles and great blue herons also visit the lake.
Animals like Moose, black bear, otters, and beavers have been spotted near the shoreline.
Images for kids
-
Crystal Lake in summer, with Belknap Mountain in distance
-
Crystal Lake as seen from summit of Mt. Mack in Winter 2013
-
Winter
-
Loon near shoreline
-
Blue heron on northeast shore
-
Crystal Lake in 1909
-
The Pines Resort 1910
-
Eagle with reflection on Crystal Lake
