List of lakes of Maine facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Maine is a state in the northeastern United States known for its beautiful natural areas, including many lakes and ponds. This list focuses on lakes that are partly or fully located in Maine, have a name, and are larger than 10 acres (about 40,000 square meters).

If a lake is bigger than 10 acres, it's usually called a "great pond" by law. This means it's generally open for public use, like swimming or fishing. Maine has thousands of lakes and ponds, but many don't have official names. There are also many named lakes that are too small to be on this list.

A map showing the 16 counties in the state of Maine.

Exploring Maine's Lakes by County
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Exploring Maine's Lakes by County

The lakes in Maine are usually organized by the county they are in. Within each county, they are listed from the largest to the smallest based on their surface area. Some lakes might touch more than one county, but they are listed under just one county here. Sometimes, lakes have other names they used to be called, and these are shown in parentheses.

Many of these lakes are great for activities like swimming, fishing, or boating, but it's always a good idea to check local rules before you visit.

Androscoggin County Lakes

Androscoggin County is home to several notable lakes. Here are some of the largest ones:

Lake Auburn: This is the biggest lake in the county, covering 2,277 acres. It's located right in Auburn.
Sabattus Pond: A large pond spanning 1,973 acres, found near Greene, Wales, and Sabattus.
Gulf Island Pond: This pond is 930 acres and is near Auburn, Greene, and Lewiston.
Tripp Pond: Covering 735 acres, Tripp Pond is located in Poland.
Taylor Pond: This lake is 653 acres and is also in Auburn.

Androscoggin County has many other smaller lakes and ponds, like Bear & Little Bear Pds (437 acres), Middle Range Pond (382 acres), and Upper Range Pond (357 acres), offering various outdoor opportunities.

Aroostook County Lakes

Aroostook County, Maine's largest county, has some of its biggest lakes:

East Grand Lake: This massive lake is the largest in Aroostook County, covering 15,917 acres. It borders Orient, Weston, and Danforth.
Square Lake: Another very large lake at 8,090 acres, located in the northern part of the county.
Eagle Lake: This lake spans 5,601 acres and is near the towns of Eagle Lake and Wallagrass.
Scopan Lake: Covering 4,986 acres, Scopan Lake is found near Ashland and Masardis.
Mattawamkeag Lake: This lake is 3,323 acres and is located near Island Falls.

Aroostook County is known for its vast wilderness, and many of its lakes, like Fish River Lake (2,568 acres) and Cross Lake (2,470 acres), are popular for fishing and outdoor adventures.

Cumberland County Lakes

Cumberland County, located in southern Maine, features some of the state's most popular lakes:

Sebago Lake: This is Maine's second-largest lake, covering a huge 30,513 acres. It's a very popular spot for recreation and provides drinking water to many towns, including Casco, Naples, and Windham.
Long Lake: At 5,295 acres, Long Lake is a significant body of water connecting Bridgton, Harrison, and Naples.
Thompson Lake: This lake covers 4,419 acres and is shared by Poland, Casco, Otisfield, and Oxford.
Little Sebago Lake: A smaller but still sizable lake at 2,009 acres, located near Gray and Windham.
Moose Pond: This lake is 1,697 acres and is found near Bridgton, Denmark, and Sweden.

Cumberland County's lakes are well-known for their recreational opportunities, including Panther Pond (1,417 acres) and Highland Lake (1,334 acres).

Franklin County Lakes

Franklin County, in western Maine, is home to beautiful mountain lakes:

Rangeley Lake: This large lake covers 6,302 acres and is a centerpiece of the Rangeley Lakes Region, known for its scenic beauty and fishing. It's located near Rangeley and Sandy River Plantation.
Webb Lake: Also known as Weld Lake, it spans 2,194 acres and is found near Carthage and Weld.
Kennebago Lake: A significant lake at 1,764 acres, located in more remote townships like Davis and Stetsontown.
Clearwater Lake: This lake is 796 acres and is near Farmington and Industry.
Long Pond: Covering 713 acres, this Long Pond is part of the Chain of Ponds Township.

Franklin County's lakes, including Wilson Pond (568 acres) and Porter Lake (524 acres), are often surrounded by forests and mountains, making them ideal for outdoor activities.

Hancock County Lakes

Hancock County, on Maine's coast, also has many inland lakes:

Graham Lake: The largest lake in Hancock County, covering 9,383 acres. It's located near Ellsworth, Mariaville, and Waltham.
Nicatous Lake: This lake spans 5,212 acres in the northern part of the county.
Green Lake: A substantial lake at 3,132 acres, found near Dedham and Ellsworth.
Branch Lake: Covering 2,942 acres, Branch Lake is also near Ellsworth.
Toddy Pond: This pond is 2,408 acres and is located near Blue Hill, Orland, Penobscot, and Surry.

Hancock County's lakes, such as Tunk Lake (2,071 acres) and Spectacle Pond (1,779 acres), offer a mix of coastal access and freshwater recreation.

Kennebec County Lakes

Kennebec County, in central Maine, is famous for its many lakes, often called the "Belgrade Lakes Region":

Great Pond: The largest lake in Kennebec County, covering 8,533 acres. It's a popular destination near Belgrade and Rome.
Cobbosseecontee Lake: This large lake spans 5,516 acres and is surrounded by towns like Litchfield, Manchester, and Winthrop.
Androscoggin Lake: Covering 4,020 acres, this lake is near Leeds and Wayne.
China Lake: A significant lake at 3,939 acres, located near China and Vassalboro.
Messalonskee Lake: This lake is 3,691 acres and is found near Belgrade, Oakland, and Sidney.

The Kennebec County lakes, including Long Pond (2,557 acres) and North Pond (2,531 acres), are well-known for their beauty and provide many opportunities for fishing and boating.

Knox County Lakes

Knox County, on the mid-coast of Maine, has several beautiful lakes:

Megunticook Lake: The largest lake in Knox County, covering 1,328 acres. It's a scenic lake near Camden, Hope, and Lincolnville.
Crawford Pond: This pond spans 596 acres and is located near Union and Warren.
Alford Lake: Covering 585 acres, Alford Lake is found in Hope.
Washington Pond: This lake is 565 acres and is in Washington.
South Pond: At 554 acres, South Pond is located in Warren.

Knox County's lakes, like Sennebec Pond (537 acres) and Seven Tree Pond (528 acres), offer a blend of coastal charm and freshwater recreation.

Lincoln County Lakes

Lincoln County, another coastal county, also has several significant lakes:

Damariscotta Lake: The largest lake in Lincoln County, covering 4,686 acres. It's a popular spot near Jefferson, Newcastle, and Nobleboro.
Pemaquid Pond: This pond spans 1,537 acres and is located near Bremen, Damariscotta, Nobleboro, and Waldoboro.
Clary Lake: Also known as Pleasant Lake, it covers 674 acres near Jefferson and Whitefield.
Long Pond: This Long Pond is 504 acres and is found near Windsor and Somerville.
Dyer Long Pond: Covering 425 acres, this pond is in Jefferson.

Lincoln County's lakes, including Biscay Pond (382 acres) and Dresden Bog (337 acres), contribute to the region's natural beauty.

Oxford County Lakes

Oxford County, in western Maine, is home to some of the state's largest and most famous lakes:

Mooselookmeguntic Lake: This is one of Maine's largest lakes, covering a vast 16,359 acres. It's a major part of the Rangeley Lakes Region, known for its excellent fishing. It's located near Rangeley and Adamstown Township.
Umbagog Lake: Spanning 7,768 acres, this lake is shared with New Hampshire and is near Magalloway Plantation and Upton.
Richardson Lakes: These lakes cover 7,751 acres and are found near Magalloway Plantation and Richardsontown Township.
Aziscohos Lake: A large lake at 6,872 acres, located near Lincoln Plantation and Lynchtown Township.
Kezar Lake: This beautiful lake covers 2,665 acres and is near Lovell and Stow.

Oxford County's lakes, such as Kezar Pond (1,851 acres) and Lovewell Pond (1,129 acres), are popular for their clear waters and outdoor activities.

Penobscot County Lakes

Penobscot County, in central Maine, has many large and important lakes:

Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes: This is a group of connected lakes (including Ambajejus, Pemadumcook, North Twin, South Twin, and Elbow) that together cover an enormous 18,670 acres, making it one of Maine's largest lake systems. It's located in the Indian Purchase Townships.
West Grand Lake: Another very large lake at 14,467 acres, found near Grand Lake Stream Plantation.
Millinocket Lake: This lake spans 8,571 acres and is near Millinocket.
Sysladobsis Lake: Covering 5,430 acres, this lake is near Lakeville.
First Matagamon Lakes: These lakes span 4,868 acres.

Penobscot County's lakes, including Pushaw Lake (4,680 acres) and Sebasticook Lake (4,537 acres), are important for both recreation and the local environment.

Piscataquis County Lakes

Piscataquis County, in the heart of Maine's wilderness, is home to the state's largest lake:

Moosehead Lake: This is Maine's biggest lake, covering an incredible 75,471 acres. It's a major tourist destination and a gateway to the North Woods, located near Greenville and many other townships.
Chesuncook Lake: Another massive lake, spanning 25,183 acres, deep within the wilderness.
Chamberlain Lake: This large lake covers 10,932 acres.
Big Eagle Lake: Spanning 9,542 acres, this lake is also in the remote northern part of the county.
Schoodic Lake: This lake covers 7,021 acres and is near Brownville and Lake View Plantation.

Piscataquis County's lakes, such as Sebec Lake (6,362 acres) and Seboeis Lake (4,913 acres), are known for their wild beauty and offer unique outdoor experiences.

Sagadahoc County Lakes

Sagadahoc County, on Maine's coast, has fewer large inland lakes compared to other counties, but still features some notable ones:

Upper Pleasant Pond: Also known as Mud Pond, this is the largest lake in Sagadahoc County, covering 797 acres. It's located near Gardiner, Litchfield, West Gardiner, and Richmond.
Nequassett Lake: This lake spans 465 acres and is found in Woolwich.
Mill Pond: Covering 117 acres, this pond is also in the county.
Center Pond: This pond is 84 acres and is located in Phippsburg.
Spirit Pond: At 61 acres, Spirit Pond is also in Phippsburg.

Sagadahoc County's smaller lakes and ponds, like Caesar Pond (51 acres) and Winnegance Pond (48 acres), add to the county's natural charm.

Somerset County Lakes

Somerset County, in central Maine, is known for its vast forests and many lakes:

Flagstaff Lake: This large lake covers 17,380 acres and is a major feature of the region, located near Eustis and Bigelow Township.
Brassua Lake: Spanning 9,454 acres, this lake is near Taunton & Raynham Academy Grant.
Seboomook Lake: This lake covers 6,880 acres and is near Pittston Academy Grant and Seboomook Township.
Great Moose Lake: At 3,856 acres, this lake is near Harmony and Hartland.
Indian Pond: This lake is 3,455 acres and is located near Big Squaw Township.

Somerset County's lakes, including Long Pond (2,951 acres) and Attean Pond (2,880 acres), are popular for fishing, hunting, and other wilderness activities.

Waldo County Lakes

Waldo County, on Maine's mid-coast, has several beautiful lakes:

Unity Pond: Also known as Winnecook Lake, this is the largest lake in Waldo County, covering 2,523 acres. It's located near Burnham, Troy, and Unity.
Swan Lake: Also called Goose Pond, this lake spans 1,364 acres and is near Swanville, Searsport, and Frankfort.
Sheepscot Pond: Covering 1,215 acres, this pond is found in Palermo.
St. George Lake: This lake is 1,017 acres and is in Liberty.
Quantabacook Lake: At 662 acres, this lake is near Morrill and Searsmont.

Waldo County's lakes, such as Sandy Pond (420 acres) and Pitcher Pond (370 acres), offer peaceful settings for recreation.

Washington County Lakes

Washington County, in eastern Maine, is known for its rugged coastline and many lakes:

Spednic Lake: This large lake covers 17,219 acres and forms part of the border with Canada. It's located near Vanceboro and Forest City Township.
Big Lake: Spanning 10,444 acres, this lake is near Grand Lake Stream Plantation and Indian Township Reservation.
Baskahegan Lake: This lake covers 6,815 acres and is near Topsfield and Brookton Township.
Meddybemps Lake: At 6,719 acres, this lake is near Alexander, Baileyville, and Meddybemps.
Grand Falls Flowage: This large flowage covers 6,099 acres and is near Baileyville and Princeton.

Washington County's lakes, including Gardner Lake (3,720 acres) and Cathance Lake (3,227 acres), are often in remote areas, providing a true wilderness experience.

York County Lakes

York County, in southern Maine, has many lakes popular for recreation due to its proximity to populated areas:

Great East Lake: The largest lake in York County, covering 1,776 acres. It's a popular spot in Acton.
Mousam Lake: This lake spans 982 acres and is located near Acton and Shapleigh.
Square Pond: Covering 877 acres, this pond is also near Acton and Shapleigh.
Lake Arrowhead: Also known as Ossipee Flowage, this lake is 779 acres and is near Limerick and Waterboro.
Northeast Pond: At 685 acres, this pond is near Acton and Lebanon.

York County's lakes, such as Province Lake (650 acres) and Balch Pond (577 acres), are popular for swimming, boating, and fishing, especially during the summer months.

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Map of the 16 counties of the State of Maine