Scargo Lake facts for kids
Scargo Lake is a beautiful freshwater pond located in Dennis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. It's known as a "kettle pond" because it was formed by melting glaciers long, long ago! This makes it a special and interesting place to visit.
Quick facts for kids Scargo Lake |
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Scargo Lake from Scargo Tower
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 Scargo Lake
Location in Massachusetts
Scargo Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Dennis, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°44′35″N 70°11′00″W / 41.74306°N 70.18333°W |
| Type | Fresh |
| Primary outflows | Sesuit Creek |
| Max. length | 0.52 Miles (0.84 Kilometers) |
| Surface area | 60 Acres (0.243 Kilometers) |
| Average depth | 25 Feet (7.62 Meters) |
| Max. depth | 48 Feet (14.63 Meters) |
Contents
The Story of Scargo Lake
Many old Native American legends tell us how Scargo Lake was formed. Most of these stories are about a kind princess named Scargo.
Princess Scargo and the Fish
One popular story says that a young brave gave Princess Scargo three fish in a pumpkin. He was going off to war and promised to return. As time passed, the fish grew bigger and bigger. They started to outgrow their pumpkin home!
To save her fish, Princess Scargo asked the women of her village for help. They used clam shells to dig a large pond for the fish. The dirt they dug out became a big hill nearby, which is now called Scargo Hill. This hill is the tallest in the middle of Cape Cod! Thanks to their hard work, the fish survived, and the brave eventually returned to the princess.
Another Scargo Lake Legend
Another legend is a bit different. It says Princess Scargo dug a fish-shaped hole in the ground. The dirt from this hole also became Scargo Hill. Then, heavy autumn rains filled the hole with water, creating the lake. This story says the princess was seen as a sacrifice, which is why the lake is always full of fish.
There's also a tale about a giant named Maushop. He supposedly dug the pond and then lit his pipe. The smoke from his pipe brought dark clouds, and rain poured down, filling the new pond.
Fun at Scargo Lake
Scargo Lake is a great place for outdoor activities, especially during the warmer months.
Beaches for Swimming
Scargo Lake has two public beaches where you can swim and relax.
- Princess Beach: This beach has soft, sandy areas right by the water. It's a perfect spot to lay out your towel and enjoy the sun.
- Scargo Beach: At Scargo Beach, sand has been added to the water, making it nice for swimming. However, there isn't a sandy area right next to the water for sunbathing.
Fishing Adventures
Scargo Lake is a popular spot for fishing! The lake is regularly stocked with different kinds of trout, including brook, brown, and rainbow trout. This means there are usually plenty of fish to catch.
The lake has a wide, shallow area near the shore. This makes it easy to wade into the water and reach deeper spots. Because of this, Scargo Lake is a favorite place for people who enjoy fly fishing.
Getting to the Lake
Scargo Lake is easy to find. It's located between Massachusetts Route 6A and Scargo Hill Road. You can easily get there from Route 6A.
There are three public spots where you can launch small boats or canoes.
- Two of these spots are on the western side of the lake, reachable by dirt roads right off Route 6A.
- The third spot is in the northern part of the lake. You can get there from an unnamed road near where Route 6A and Sesuit Neck Road meet.
To keep the lake peaceful and safe, the town has a rule: outboard motors on boats cannot be more powerful than 7.5 horsepower.
