Mystic Lakes (Boston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mystic Lakes |
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Aerial photograph of Upper Mystic Lake
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 Mystic Lakes
Location in Massachusetts
Mystic Lakes
Location in the United States
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| Location | Arlington, Medford, and Winchester, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°25′54″N 71°8′54″W / 42.43167°N 71.14833°W |
| Type | meromictic |
| Primary inflows | Aberjona River |
| Primary outflows | Mystic River |
| Basin countries | United States |
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The Mystic Lakes are two connected lakes near Boston, Massachusetts. They are called Upper Mystic Lake and Lower Mystic Lake.
These lakes are about 1 meter (3 feet) above sea level. You can find them in the towns of Winchester, Arlington, and Medford, Massachusetts. The Aberjona River flows into Upper Mystic Lake. Water then moves from Upper Mystic Lake, over the Mystic Dam, into Lower Mystic Lake. From there, the water goes into the Mystic River and finally into Boston Harbor.
What Makes the Mystic Lakes Special?
Lower Mystic Lake is a special kind of lake called a meromictic lake. This means it has a very deep layer of water that almost never mixes with the water closer to the surface.
Because of this, the mud and tiny bits at the bottom of Lower Mystic Lake settle in clear layers each year. These layers are called varves. They are like the rings you see inside a tree trunk. These varves have stayed almost untouched for about a thousand years.
Scientists can study these varves to learn about the past. For example, they have used the varves in Lower Mystic Lake to find out when hurricanes happened long ago.
People enjoy the Mystic Lakes for swimming, sailing, and fishing. However, Upper Mystic Lake has some pollution. It has small amounts of arsenic and other heavy metals from the Aberjona River.
The land along the eastern side of the lakes is part of the Mystic River Reservation. This area is looked after by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The lakes were once a source of drinking water for nearby towns like Charlestown and Boston.
A Look Back: History of the Lakes
In the 1600s, a Native American leader named the Squaw Sachem of Mistick lived near the Mystic Lakes. She was important because she sold much of the land in the Boston area to the early settlers.
