Rainbow Lake (Maine) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rainbow Lake
Rainbow Lake Location in Maine Show map of Maine Rainbow Lake Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Piscataquis County, Maine
Coordinates	45°49′N 69°07′W / 45.817°N 69.117°W / 45.817; -69.117
Lake type	oligotrophic
Primary outflows	Rainbow Stream
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	4 mi (6.4 km)
Max. width	1 km (1,100 yd)
Surface area	1,626 acres (658 ha)
Max. depth	130 feet (40 m)
Water volume	63,348 acre⋅ft (78,139,000 m3)
Surface elevation	1,050 ft (320 m)

Rainbow Lake is the source of Rainbow Stream in Rainbow township in the North Maine Woods. Rainbow Stream discharges over a dam at the west end of the lake and flows 4 miles (6.4 km) south to Nahmakanta Lake. Nahmakanta Lake overflows through Nahmakanta Stream and Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes to the Penobscot River. The Appalachian Trail follows Rainbow Stream and the south shore of the lake; but the old logging road to the dam has deteriorated with boggy areas no longer passable by four-wheel drive vehicles. The lake has a small catchment basin and is surrounded by large granite boulders. The low nutrient input in this setting produces unusually clear water. The lake has a native population of brook trout.