Rattlesnake Island (New Hampshire) facts for kids
Rattlesnake Island is a large island located in Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. There are different ideas about how it got its name. Some people think it's because the island's shape looks a bit like a snake. Others say it was named after a group of rattlesnakes that used to live there.
The island is part of the town of Alton.
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Exploring Rattlesnake Island's Features
Rattlesnake Island is about 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Its shoreline stretches for about 5 miles (8 km). The island's land changes a lot. Some parts are very steep, rising sharply from the water. These areas offer amazing views of the lake. Other parts, especially a section called the "peninsula" on the south side, rise more gently.
Rattlesnake Island is the highest island on Lake Winnipesaukee. The very top of the island, sometimes called "Mount Rattlesnake," is 874 feet (266 meters) high. This means it rises 370 feet (113 meters) above the lake's usual water level. Because it's so high, you can see far across the lake from many spots. There are also hiking trails that connect different parts of the island. Island residents often use these trails.
Joining the Rattlesnake Island Association
If you own property on Rattlesnake Island, you need to join the Rattlesnake Island Association. This means paying yearly fees. The Association owns land on the mainland too. This area is east of Smith Point in Glidden Cove. It has places for boats to dock for a short time. There's also a ramp to launch boats and two big parking lots. These are for island residents and their guests. There's even a special area to park boat trailers.
The island has electric power and phone service available everywhere. As of 2016, most parts of the island also have DSL internet service. However, other faster internet options like cable or fiber optic are not yet available.
Protecting Rattlesnake Island's Nature
At one point, there were plans to sell the inner parts of the island for building homes. But this didn't happen. Instead, the middle of the island is now a protected nature area. The eastern half of this inner land is owned by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. The western part is owned by the Rattlesnake Island Association.
The Lakes Region Conservation Trust has a dock at the far southeastern end of the island. Members of the Conservation Trust can dock their boats there. They can also use the hiking trails that go through the protected land.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Rattlesnake para niños
