Lake Massabesic

Lake Massabesic
Massabesic Lake
Looking west over the northern part of the lake
Location of Lake Massabesic in New Hampshire, USA.
Location of Lake Massabesic in New Hampshire, USA.
Lake Massabesic
Location of Lake Massabesic in New Hampshire, USA.
Location of Lake Massabesic in New Hampshire, USA.
Lake Massabesic
LocationRockingham County and Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Coordinates42°59′50″N 71°22′25″W / 42.99722°N 71.37361°W / 42.99722; -71.37361
Primary inflowsSucker Brook
Primary outflowstributary of Cohas Brook
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length5.6 miles (9.0 km)
Max. width1.3 miles (2.1 km)
Surface area2,560 acres (10.4 km2)
Average depth17 ft (5.2 m)
Max. depth50 ft (15 m)
Surface elevation251 feet (77 m)
IslandsBrowns Island; Fletcher Island; Birch Island; Grape Islands; Loon Island; Picnic Island; numerous small islands
SettlementsManchester; Auburn

Lake Massabesic or Massabesic Lake[1] is a lake in southern New Hampshire, United States, covering about 2,560 acres (1,040 ha)[2] (equivalent to about 4 sq mi or 10 km2) within the city of Manchester and the town of Auburn. Because it provides drinking water for Manchester, swimming and water skiing are not allowed there.[3] Popular sports on the lake are sailing, fishing, and kayaking. The recreational trails along the lake provide views of the lake and the town of Auburn.

Besides flowing into the Manchester water system, the lake's water feeds Cohas Brook, leading to the Merrimack River. Massabesic is a Native American name meaning "place of much water" or "near the great brook."[citation needed]

The lake is classified as a cold- and warmwater fishery.[2]

  1. ^ "Massabesic Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Massabesic Lake, Auburn, Manchester" (PDF). NH Fish & Game. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  3. ^ Posted Rules for Lake Massabesic