West Branch Mattawamkeag River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Branch Mattawamkeag River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Maine 890 feet (270 m) |
| River mouth | Mattawamkeag River 365 feet (111 m) 45°50′01″N 67°59′28″W / 45.8335°N 67.991°W |
| Length | 53 miles (85 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Mattawamkeag River – Penobscot River |
The West Branch Mattawamkeag River is a river in Maine, United States. It flows for about 53 miles (85 km) and is a branch of the Mattawamkeag River. This river starts in a place called Township 6, Range 6, WELS, in Maine.
The river first flows about 10 miles (16 km) towards the northeast. On this part of its journey, it passes by Pleasant Lake, Mud Lake, and Rockabema Lake. After that, it turns and flows for about 42 miles (68 km) towards the south and southeast. It goes through Upper Mattawamkeag Lake and Mattawamkeag Lake. Finally, it joins with the East Branch Mattawamkeag River in a town called Haynesville. This meeting point is about 10 miles (16 km) west of the border with Canada.
Contents
Exploring Mattawamkeag Lake
| Mattawamkeag Lake | |
|---|---|
 Mattawamkeag Lake
Location in Maine
|
|
| Location | Aroostook County, Maine |
| Coordinates | 45°59′N 68°10′W / 45.983°N 68.167°W |
| Primary inflows | Upper Mattawamkeag Lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) |
| Max. width | 2 mi (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | 3,323 acres (1,345 ha) |
| Max. depth | 47 feet (14 m) |
| Water volume | 7,662 acre⋅ft (9,451,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 430 ft (130 m) |
Mattawamkeag Lake is a beautiful lake located in Aroostook County, Maine. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the town of Island Falls. This lake is connected to another lake called Upper Mattawamkeag Lake.
Boating and Access to the Lakes
If you want to go boating, there is a great place to launch your boat on the east side of Upper Mattawamkeag Lake. This spot is right off U.S. Route 2 and is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Island Falls. It's easy to get your boat into the water here.
Upper Mattawamkeag Lake and Mattawamkeag Lake are at the same water level. This means boats can easily travel between them. There is a short connection, or thoroughfare, that links the south end of Upper Mattawamkeag Lake to the north end of Mattawamkeag Lake.
Changes in Lake Water Levels
For many years, there was a dam at the south end of Mattawamkeag Lake. This dam helped control how much water flowed out into the West Branch Mattawamkeag River. When the dam was no longer used, the water level in the lake dropped by several feet.
Because the water level went down, the shoreline of the lake became rocky. This happened because the waves started to wear away the shallow soil that was once covered by water.
Fish and Wildlife in the Lakes
Both Mattawamkeag Lake and Upper Mattawamkeag Lake are great places for certain types of fish to live. These lakes provide a good home for:
These fish are common in the area and are often sought after by people who enjoy fishing.
