Lake Sunapee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Sunapee |
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A view between Great Island and Little Island
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 Lake Sunapee
Location in New Hampshire
Lake Sunapee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sullivan County and Merrimack County, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°22′33″N 72°3′23″W / 43.37583°N 72.05639°W |
| Primary inflows | outlet of Little Sunapee Lake; Pike Brook; Blodgett Brook; Bartlett Brook; Chandler Brook |
| Primary outflows | Sugar River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 8.1 miles (13.0 km) |
| Max. width | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) |
| Surface area | 4,136 acres (17 km2) |
| Max. depth | 105 feet (32 m) |
| Shore length1 | 70 miles (110 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,093 feet (333 m) |
| Islands | 8 |
| Settlements | Sunapee; New London; Newbury |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Sunapee is a beautiful lake located in western New Hampshire, United States. It's the fifth-largest lake that is completely within New Hampshire.
The lake is about 8.1 miles (13.0 km) long from north to south and up to 2.5 miles (4.0 km) wide. It covers an area of 6.5 square miles (17 km2) and is 105 feet (32 m) deep at its deepest point. Lake Sunapee has eleven islands and many peninsulas, which create a long shoreline of about 70 miles (110 km).
You can find seven sandy beaches around the lake, including the one at Mount Sunapee State Park. There are also six boat ramps for easy access to the water. The lake is home to three lighthouses that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Driving around the lake is a 25 miles (40 km) trip with lots of scenic water views. The lake sits 1,093 feet (333 m) above sea level.
The water from Lake Sunapee flows out into the Sugar River at Sunapee Harbor. This river travels west through towns like Newport and Claremont before joining the Connecticut River, which then flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
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Lake Sunapee's Past
Lake Sunapee was formed by glaciers! About 11,000 years ago, when the ice melted, it left behind huge rocks scattered in the woods. These are called glacial erratics. You can see a big one on Minute Island, near the John Hay Wildlife Refuge.
Native Americans, likely the Algonquins, called the lake "Soo-Nipi," which means "Wild Goose Waters." This name makes sense because many geese fly over the lake during their migrations. If you look at Lake Sunapee from above, it even looks a bit like a goose in flight! Some local families can trace their history back to the Penacooks, who used to hunt geese and fish for speckled trout here.
The Steamboat Era
Before cars were common, Lake Sunapee became a popular vacation spot thanks to the B&M Railroad. The train brought visitors to Newbury Harbor, at the south end of the lake. Today, you can see an old caboose there, reminding everyone of the railroad days.
Steamboats became the main way to get around the lake. They carried passengers from the train station to hotels and cottages all over the lake. Some of the busiest stops were Bay Point, Blodgett Landing, and Indian Cave. One of the first commercial boats in 1854 was actually pulled by horses!
The steamboat era truly began when N.S. Gardner bought Little Island for just $1.00 and built a bowling alley there. He launched the Penacook (later called Mountain Maid) to take people to the island. Soon, other large steamboats followed, like the Lady Woodsum (launched in 1876) and the impressive Edmund Burke (1885), which could carry 600 passengers. The biggest was the Amenia White, launched in 1887, carrying 650 people!
The 70-foot (21 m) steamship Kearsarge was launched in 1897 and still offers daily cruises in the summer. Another ship, the Weetamoo, launched in 1902, was later sunk near Newbury. It's still intact and is a popular spot for local SCUBA divers! The steering room of the Kearsarge was found in the lake in the 1960s and is now on display at the Sunapee Historical Center.
The 52-foot (16 m) MV Mount Sunapee II began cruises in 1965. It takes passengers on tours of the lake during the summer.
Many grand hotels around the lake had their own steamboat landings. But when cars became popular, people could drive themselves, and the steamboat era eventually ended.
Towns Around the Lake
Lake Sunapee is surrounded by three towns:
- Sunapee is on the west side, with villages like Sunapee Harbor and Georges Mills.
- Newbury is to the southeast and southwest.
- New London is to the east.
Interesting Lake Sunapee Facts
The Sunapee Historical Society once reported about the lake's unique golden trout. These fish were actually white most of the year, but during their mating season in the fall, the males would turn a bright, flaming color, earning them the name aureolus (meaning "golden halo").
In 1921, the Lake Sunapee Fish and Game Club was started. They built special tanks to raise fish and released many different kinds of salmon and trout into the lake. Sadly, the golden trout eventually disappeared after lake trout were introduced, as they bred with them.
Some famous people have connections to Lake Sunapee:
- John Hay, who was a private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln and later a Secretary of State. His lakeside home, called The Fells, is now part of the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge and is open for tours.
- Steven Tyler from the band Aerosmith.
Lake Sunapee's Watershed
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common body of water, like a lake or river. The Lake Sunapee watershed is part of the larger Connecticut River Basin. It includes about 55 square miles (142 km2) of land from towns like Sunapee, Newbury, and New London. There are 35 streams that flow into Lake Sunapee. A watershed is like an ecosystem, where all the animals, plants, and people affect the environment.
Studying Lake Ecology
The Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) is part of a project called the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). They have special equipment in the lake to collect data about its ecology. The LSPA has been gathering information about Lake Sunapee's health for over 100 years! They regularly test the water, and the samples are analyzed at Colby-Sawyer College Labs. The LSPA is a non-profit group that helps protect and educate people about the lake.
Beaches on Lake Sunapee
Lake Sunapee has seven white sandy beaches for you to enjoy: Sunapee Harbor, Dewey Beach, Georges Mills, Newbury Harbor, Soo-Nipi, Granliden, and the Mount Sunapee State Park beach.
Mount Sunapee State Park is a great place for fun all year round. It's famous for skiing and snowboarding in winter, but in summer, you can go camping, hiking, and swimming at its beautiful beach on Lake Sunapee. The beach has soft sand that gently slopes into clear, deep water, perfect for wading. Sometimes, the beach is even the starting point for a triathlon, which includes a half-mile swim, a 100-mile (160 km) bike race, and a marathon run around the lake!
The park is usually open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, depending on the weather. There's a small fee to enter the beach area during the summer. Mount Sunapee mountain is right next to Lake Sunapee on its southern end.
Lake Sunapee's Lighthouses
New Hampshire has five lighthouses in total. Two are on the Atlantic coast, and three are right here on Lake Sunapee! These three are Loon Island Lighthouse, Burkehaven Lighthouse, and Lakeside Lighthouse.
The Sunapee Dam
For a long time, the water flowing out of Lake Sunapee powered mills along the Sugar River. These mills made things like flour and textiles. However, the water flow wasn't always steady; sometimes there was too much water, and other times not enough, which meant the mills had to close.
In 1820, a group formed the Sunapee Dam Corporation. They got permission to control the lake's water level. They built flood gates to manage how much water flowed out.
As tourism grew, controlling the lake level became a problem. When the water was lowered for the mills, steamboats had trouble moving, and farmers had to extend their fences into the water. People who loved the lake for recreation wanted the water level to stay high.
This disagreement continued for many years. Eventually, the New Hampshire government decided that all lakes should be managed for everyone's benefit. In 1905, after some legal discussions, everyone agreed that the lake's water level should be kept within a certain range to help both the mills and the growing tourism industry.
Sailing on Lake Sunapee
The Lake Sunapee Yacht Club is home to one of the biggest inland fleets of Starboats, which are special boats used in the Olympics. The Sunapee Starboat Regatta is a huge sailing event that attracts many participants. Lake Sunapee even had its own Olympic hopefuls, Brad Nichol and Andy Horton, who were named "Team of the Year" in 2006 by US SAILING, the main sailing organization in the United States.
Fun Activities at Lake Sunapee
- League of NH Craftsmen's Fair: This big nine-day event starts on the first Saturday in August at Mount Sunapee State Park. You can see over 200 craft booths with unique handmade items.
- Love Your Lake Day & Boat Parade: The LSPA hosts this annual event in August at Sunapee Harbor. You can see classic boats, enjoy family activities, and visit the Sunapee Historical Museum.
- Sunapee Bike Race: This bike race is for all ages, with categories for children as young as 10!
Images for kids
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Looking westward at Gardiner Bay, with entrance to Sunapee Harbor, and Burkehaven Hill. This shows about 5% of Lake Sunapee's water surface.
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Looking north on Lake Sunapee from atop Mount Sunapee. This shows about 50% of Lake Sunapee's water surface.
