Nicatous Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nicatous Lake |
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 Nicatous Lake
Location in Maine
Nicatous Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hancock County, Maine, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°05′17″N 68°08′49″W / 45.088°N 68.147°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | over 8 mi (13 km) |
| Surface area | 5,165 acres (2,090 ha) |
| Max. depth | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Surface elevation | 351 ft (107 m) |
| Islands | Numerous |
Nicatous Lake is a cool body of water located in Hancock County, Maine. It's super big, covering about 5,165 acres! That makes it the second-largest lake in Hancock County and one of the biggest in all of Maine.
This lake is really long, stretching over 8 miles, but it's also quite narrow. You'll find tons of islands scattered all over it. Even though it's big, it's not super deep, with its deepest spot being about 56 feet in the southern part. Nicatous Lake is a great place for fishing! You can catch different kinds of fish here, like landlocked salmon, brown trout, smallmouth bass, white perch and chain pickerel.
Exploring Nicatous Lake
Nicatous Lake is a large and interesting lake in Maine. It's known for being very long and narrow, stretching out for more than 8 miles! Imagine paddling that distance!
Even though it's huge, covering over 5,000 acres, it's not very deep. The deepest part is only about 56 feet. This means some areas have low oxygen, which can affect the types of plants and animals that live there.
Fish You Can Find
Nicatous Lake is a popular spot for fishing. Many different types of fish call this lake home.
- Landlocked Salmon: These are salmon that live their whole lives in freshwater lakes instead of going to the ocean.
- Brown Trout: Another popular fish for anglers, known for their beautiful spotted patterns.
- Smallmouth Bass: These fish are known for being strong fighters, making them exciting to catch.
- White Perch: A common and tasty fish found in many lakes.
- Chain Pickerel: These fish are predators with a long, slender body and a chain-like pattern on their sides.
Protecting the Lake and Its Islands
In 1999, something really important happened for Nicatous Lake. The State of Maine bought 78 undeveloped islands in the lake. This was part of a big plan to protect nature.
This purchase was part of a larger effort to conserve, or protect, about 22,000 acres of land all around the lake. This helps keep the area wild and beautiful for everyone to enjoy, and it protects the homes of many animals and plants. It means these islands and the land around them will stay natural and undeveloped for future generations.
