Long Lake (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Lake |
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 Long Lake
Location in Maine
Long Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bridgton / Harrison / Naples, Maine, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°58′18″N 70°36′42″W / 43.97167°N 70.61167°W |
| Type | mesotrophic |
| Primary inflows | Stevens Brook |
| Primary outflows | Songo River |
| Catchment area | 114 sq mi (300 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Max. width | 1 mi (1.6 km) |
| Surface area | 5,295 acres (2,143 ha) |
| Average depth | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Max. depth | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Water volume | 129,726 acre⋅ft (160,015,000 m3) |
| Residence time | 1.1 years |
| Shore length1 | 38.1 mi (61.3 km) |
| Surface elevation | 268 ft (82 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Long Lake is a beautiful, long lake in Maine, stretching about 11 miles! It's located near the towns of Naples, Maine, Bridgton, Maine, and Harrison, Maine. This lake is connected to Brandy Pond by the Chute River. Long Lake was formed a very long time ago by giant sheets of ice called glaciers. Because of this, it has many interesting coves and rocky areas.
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History and Water Control
Long Lake has an interesting history! In 1832, special canal boats could travel from Portland harbor all the way to Long Lake. They used the Cumberland and Oxford Canal to do this.
Even today, the Songo Lock helps control the water level of Long Lake. Every November, the lake's water level is lowered by about 3 feet. This is done to prevent floods when the snow melts in the spring.
Summer Fun and Camps
Long Lake is a very popular spot for summer fun! Many summer camps are located around the lake. Some of these include Camp Newfound, Camp Owatonna, Camp Takajo, and Camp Wildwood. (Camp Wildwood is actually on a nearby lake called Wood's Pond.)
Famous Connections
Long Lake has been a special place for some famous people!
Authors and Stories
The well-known author, E. B. White, who wrote Charlotte's Web, owned a vacation house on Long Lake. His house was in the North Bridgton area.
Long Lake is also part of a famous story! It's the home of a made-up character named David Drayton in Stephen King's 1980 story, The Mist. This story was even made into a movie in 2007, also called The Mist. The mysterious mist in the story starts right here at Long Lake!
Wildlife and Nature
Long Lake is home to many different kinds of animals. It's important to respect them, especially since many people visit the lake for fun.
Loons
One of the most special animals you might see and hear are loons. Their unique calls can be heard at night, and many visitors love to listen to them. You might even spot loon nests along the shoreline. It's very important to never disturb these nests. Visitors should be careful around them and avoid making loud noises. Boaters should also watch out for loons on the lake and try not to create big waves near them.
Protecting the Lake
Boaters should always check their boats before putting them in the lake. They need to look for a plant called millfoil. This plant is a growing problem in many lakes in New England. It can spread easily and harm the lake's natural environment.
Lake Depth
The official deepest part of Long Lake is listed as 59 feet. However, there's a spring near Half Loon Bay, which is a small bay close to Bridgton Academy. Depth finders on several boats have shown that this spring is actually 216 feet deep!
