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Squam Lake

Coordinates: 43°44′43″N 71°31′34″W / 43.74528°N 71.52611°W / 43.74528; -71.52611
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Squam Lake
View from the cliffs of East Rattlesnake
LocationGrafton County, Carroll County, and Belknap County, New Hampshire
Coordinates43°44′43″N 71°31′34″W / 43.74528°N 71.52611°W / 43.74528; -71.52611
Primary outflowsSquam River
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length7.0 mi (11.3 km)
Max. width4.6 mi (7.4 km)
Surface area6,791 acres (2,748 ha)
Surface elevation561 ft (171 m)
Islands28 named (see list)
SettlementsHolderness; Sandwich; Moultonborough; Center Harbor

Squam Lake is a lake located in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, United States, south of the White Mountains, straddling the borders of Grafton, Carroll, and Belknap counties. The largest town center on the lake is Holderness. The lake is located northwest of much larger Lake Winnipesaukee.

It drains via a short natural channel into Little Squam Lake, and then through a dam at the head of the short Squam River into the Pemigewasset at Ashland. Covering 6,791 acres (27.48 km2),[1] Squam is the second-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire.

Squam Lake in 2006
Squam Lake from the Asquam House, Holderness, NH

Squam Lake was originally called Keeseenunknipee, which meant "the goose lake in the highlands". The white settlers that followed shortened the name to "Casumpa", "Kusumpy" and/or "Kesumpe" around 1779. In the early 19th century, the lake was given another Abenaki name, Asquam, which means "water". Finally, in the early 20th century, Asquam was shortened to its present version, Squam.

The 1981 film On Golden Pond was filmed in the town of Center Harbor on Squam Lake.[2] There is one tour boat service offered by the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, based in Holderness, that will show visitors where all the filming locations are situated, as well as items of natural significance.

Squam Lake is a nesting site for loons and is a good place to see them in breeding plumage during the summer months. Bald eagles and great blue herons are also known to nest on the lake.

The lake is classified as a cold- and warmwater fishery, with observed species including rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, chain pickerel, horned pout, and white perch.[3]

Islands

Squam Lake has about 30 named islands and numerous smaller, unnamed islets. The named islands are:

  • Basin Island
  • Birch Island
  • Bowman Island
  • Carnes Island
  • Chocorua (Church) Island
  • Duck Island
  • Great Island
  • Groton Island
  • High Haith (at 243 acres (98 ha), the largest island, but only separated from mainland by narrow ditch bridged by road)
  • Hoag Island
  • Hubble Island
  • Kate Island
  • Kent Island
  • Kimball Island
  • Laurel Island
  • Little Loon Island (nesting site to bald eagles in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2012)
  • Long Island
  • Loon Island
  • Merrill Island
  • Mink Island
  • Mooney (or Moon) Island
  • Mouse Island
  • Otter Island
  • Perch Island
  • Potato Island
  • Sheep Island
  • Three Sisters (three separate islands)
  • Utopia Island
  • Yard Island[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ New Hampshire GRANIT database
  2. ^ Squam Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
  3. ^ "Squam Lake, Holderness" (PDF). NH Fish & Game. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. ^ U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Geographic Names Information System
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