Keoka Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keoka Lake |
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 Keoka Lake
Location in Maine
Keoka Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Waterford, Maine, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°10′45″N 70°42′20″W / 44.17917°N 70.70556°W |
| Type | mesotrophic |
| Catchment area | 7.1 square miles (18 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 460 acres (190 ha) |
| Average depth | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 42 feet (13 m) |
| Water volume | 11,001 acre⋅ft (13,570,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 1.5 years |
| Shore length1 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 494 feet (151 m) |
| Settlements | Waterford |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Keoka Lake is a beautiful small lake located in the town of Waterford, in Oxford County, Maine, United States. It sits just south of a place called Waterford Flat and northeast of South Waterford. This lake is special because it's right next to the birthplace of a famous American writer, Artemus Ward.
Keoka Lake is also sometimes called Thomas Pond. It covers about 460 acres, which is roughly the size of 350 football fields! The deepest part of the lake is about 42 feet (14 meters) down.
How Keoka Lake Was Formed
Keoka Lake was created a very long time ago by powerful forces of nature: glaciers! Imagine giant sheets of ice, miles thick, slowly moving across the land. As these glaciers moved, they carved out valleys and scooped out hollows in the ground.
When the climate warmed up, these huge glaciers started to melt and retreat. The water from the melting ice filled the hollows they had carved, forming lakes like Keoka Lake. The nearby Mount Tire'm also played a role in shaping the land around the lake during these icy periods.
Size and Characteristics
Keoka Lake is considered a `mesotrophic` lake. This means it has a moderate amount of nutrients in its water. Lakes with too many nutrients can have problems like too much algae growth, while lakes with too few might not support much life. Keoka Lake is somewhere in the middle, which usually means it's a healthy environment for different plants and animals.
The lake has a shoreline that stretches for about 4.5 miles. Its water volume is around 11,001 acre-feet, and it takes about 1.5 years for all the water in the lake to be completely replaced by new water flowing in and out. The lake sits at an elevation of about 494 feet above sea level.
Location in Maine
Keoka Lake is nestled in the western part of Maine, a state known for its beautiful forests, mountains, and many lakes. Waterford is a small, charming town that offers a quiet, natural setting. The lake is a popular spot for outdoor activities, especially during the warmer months.
Famous Connection
One interesting fact about Keoka Lake is its connection to Artemus Ward. He was born nearby. Artemus Ward was the pen name of Charles Browne, a well-known American humorist and writer from the 1800s. He was famous for his funny stories and lectures, and he even influenced other famous writers like Mark Twain.
