Eagle Lake (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eagle Lake |
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 Eagle Lake
Location in Maine
Eagle Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Aroostook County, Maine |
| Coordinates | 46°20′N 69°21′W / 46.333°N 69.350°W |
| Primary outflows | [fish river waterway] |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 18 mi (29 km) |
| Surface area | 9,554 acres (3,866 ha) |
| Max. depth | 124 feet (38 m) |
| Water volume | 220,866 acre⋅ft (272,434,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 928 ft (283 m) |
Eagle Lake is a very important lake in the North Maine Woods. It is the first, largest, and deepest lake you find along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. This waterway is a famous path for canoes and kayaks.
Eagle Lake is about 18 miles (29 km) long. It covers a large area of 9,554 acres (3,866 hectares). The deepest part of the lake goes down 124 feet (38 meters).
Water flows into Eagle Lake from several smaller ponds and brooks. These include Indian Pond, Haymock Lake, Woodman Pond, Pillsbury Pond, Soper Pond, and the Russell Ponds. Long ago, water from Chamberlain Lake also flowed into Eagle Lake. But now, a dam called Lock Dam sends most of that water to the Penobscot River instead.
Controlling Water Levels: Churchill Lake Dam
There is a dam that helps control the water level of Eagle Lake. This dam is located near Churchill Lake. It makes sure that the water in Churchill Lake is at a certain height.
The dam also helps control how much water flows out of Eagle Lake into the Allagash River. The Allagash River is a branch of the Saint John River. People who work at Churchill Depot manage the dam. They release water to keep the Allagash River at a good level for canoeing during the summer.
Fish and Their Homes in Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake is a great place for many types of fish to live. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife looks after the lake. They believe it is a perfect home for fish like:
- Togue (a type of lake trout)
- Squaretail (also known as brook trout)
- Cusk (a freshwater cod)
- lake whitefish
The department works hard to protect these fish. They try to stop other fish species, like yellow perch, from being introduced into the lake. This is because new species can sometimes compete with the native fish for food and space.
Sometimes, during the fall and winter, less water is released from the Churchill Lake Dam. This helps keep the water level high enough to cover rocky areas. These rocky areas are important because fish use them to lay their eggs.
