Lake ecology
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Ecology · Lakes
Maine’s 60 largest lakes
A comparative reference to the state’s largest inland waters, with area, shoreline, depth, drainage, elevation, dams, river system, and county.
About the data
Reading Maine’s great ponds
Maine defines lakes and ponds covering more than ten acres as “great ponds.” This table compares sixty of the largest. For broader coverage, continue to the lakes reference.
Area is measured in acres, shoreline perimeter in miles, depth and elevation in feet, and drainage area in square miles. Blank cells indicate that the source table did not provide a value.
Comparative table
Sixty largest lakes
On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to compare every measurement.
| Lake name | Area (acres) | Perimeter (miles) | Mean depth (feet) | Max depth (feet) | Drainage (sq. miles) | Dams | Elevation (feet) | Major drainage | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moosehead Lake | 75,471 | 280.8 | 55 | 246 | 1,268 | 3 | 1,029 | Kennebec | PIS |
| Sebago Lake1 | 29,992 | 98.2 | 107 | 316 | 440 | 3 | 267 | Presumpscot | CUM |
| Chesuncook Lake: Moose Pond2 | 25,183 | 22.5 | 40 | 150 | 1,420 | 3 | 942 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Ambajejus (Elbow, North & South Twin, Pemadumcook Chain) Lake | 18,670 | 17.4 | 28 | 101 | 1,881 | 3 | 492 | Penobscot | PEN |
| Flagstaff Lake3 | 17,380 | 147.2 | 18 | 50 | 516 | 2 | 1,146 | Kennebec | SOM |
| Spednik Lake | 17,219 | 105.9 | 20 | 54 | 413 | 2 | 380 | St. Croix | WAS |
| Mooselookmeguntic (Cupsuptic) Lake4 | 16,359 | 57.5 | 60 | 132 | 389 | 3 | 1,467 | Androscoggin | OXF |
| East Grand Lake | 15,917 | 78.8 | 28 | 128 | 137 | 3 | 434 | St. Croix | ARO |
| West Grand Lake (Pug Lake, Junior Bay)24 | 14,467 | 49 | 37 | 128 | 226 | 3 | 298 | St. Croix | PEN |
| Chamberlain Lake5 | 10,932 | 52.2 | 33 | 154 | 204 | 3 | 943 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Big Lake25 | 10,444 | 70.2 | 12 | 70 | 460 | 1 | 202 | St. Croix | WAS |
| Big Eagle Lake | 9,542 | 67.7 | 34 | 124 | 170 | 1 | 930 | St. John | PIS |
| Brassua Lake | 9,454 | 74 | 30 | 65 | 716 | 3 | 1,074 | Kennebec | SOM |
| Graham Lake | 9,383 | 89.8 | 17 | 47 | 499 | 2 | 106 | Union | HAN |
| Millinocket Lake | 8,571 | 64.7 | 24 | 86 | 123 | 3 | 478 | Penobscot | PEN |
| Great Pond6 | 8,533 | 46.1 | 21 | 69 | 82.9 | 3 | 248 | Kennebec | KEN |
| Square Lake | 8,090 | 20.6 | 36 | 122 | 255 | 1 | 577 | St. John | ARO |
| Umbagog Lake | 7,768 | 8.4 | 14 | 48 | 600 | 3 | 1,245 | Androscoggin | OXF |
| Richardson Lakes7 | 7,751 | 54.2 | 44 | 108 | 479 | 3 | 1,448 | Androscoggin | OXF |
| Schoodic Lake | 7,021 | 32.5 | 79 | 188 | 34.6 | 3 | 430 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Seboomook Lake8 | 6,880 | 69.4 | 17 | 48 | 525 | 2 | 1,073 | Penobscot | SOM |
| Aziscohos Lake9 | 6,872 | 63 | 31 | 60 | 214 | 2 | 1,517 | Androscoggin | OXF |
| Long Lake10 | 6,849 | 35.7 | 48 | 163 | 88.6 | 1 | 581 | St. John | ARO |
| Baskahegan Lake | 6,815 | 41.3 | — | 22 | 123 | 1 | 417 | Penobscot | WAS |
| Meddybemps Lake11 | 6,719 | 46.1 | 14 | 58 | 44.7 | 3 | 173 | Coastal | WAS |
| Sebec Lake | 6,362 | 52.1 | 42 | 155 | 326 | 3 | 323 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Rangeley (Oquossoc) Lake12 | 6,302 | 32.7 | 60 | 149 | 100 | 3 | 1,518 | Androscoggin | FRA |
| Grand Falls (Berry Brook) Flowage | 6,099 | 6.6 | — | 44 | 1,315 | 2 | 202 | St. Croix | WAS |
| Eagle Lake | 5,601 | 35 | 44 | 136 | 762 | 1 | 574 | St. John | ARO |
| Cobbosseecontee Lake | 5,516 | 61.8 | 37 | 100 | 131 | 3 | 166 | Kennebec | KEN |
| Sysladobsis Lake | 5,430 | 1.3 | 25 | 66 | 62.9 | 3 | 304 | St. Croix | PEN |
| Long Lake13 | 5,295 | 38.1 | 23 | 59 | 114 | 1 | 268 | Presumpscot | CUM |
| Nicatous Lake | 5,212 | 58.4 | 16 | 56 | 71.6 | 3 | 351 | Penobscot | HAN |
| Squapan Lake | 4,986 | 1 | 21 | 58 | 65.8 | 2 | 601 | St. John | ARO |
| Seboeis Lake | 4,913 | 62.3 | — | 90 | 58.8 | 3 | 438 | Penobscot | PIS |
| First Matagamon Lakes14 | 4,868 | 61.3 | 23 | 95 | 4.93 | 3 | 654 | Penobscot | PEN |
| Damariscotta Lake15 | 4,686 | 1.8 | 30 | 114 | 56.8 | 3 | 54 | Coastal | LIN |
| Pushaw Lake | 4,680 | 32 | 11 | 28 | 113 | 3 | 116 | Penobscot | PEN |
| Caucomgomoc Lake | 4,594 | 26.5 | 22 | 79 | 179 | 3 | 998 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Sebasticook Lake16 | 4,537 | 27.8 | 20 | 50 | 126 | 3 | 200 | Kennebec | PEN |
| Thompson Lake (The Heath) | 4,419 | 32.2 | 35 | 121 | 47.4 | 3 | 325 | Androscoggin | CUM |
| Allagash Lake | 4,210 | 23.8 | 35 | 89 | 80.7 | 1 | 1,038 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Androscoggin Lake17 | 4,020 | 27 | 15 | 38 | 83 | 3 | 269 | Androscoggin | KEN |
| Junior Lake | 4,000 | 28.8 | 21 | 70 | 81.3 | 2 | 298 | St. Croix | PEN |
| China Lake18 | 3,939 | 30.4 | 28 | 85 | 31.8 | 3 | 196 | Kennebec | KEN |
| Moose Pond | 3,856 | 32.1 | 18 | 50 | — | 3 | 245 | Kennebec | SOM |
| Gardner Lake | 3,720 | 25.6 | 40 | 56 | 50.6 | 3 | 67 | Machias | WAS |
| Churchill (Heron) Lake19 | 3,706 | 25 | 20 | 62 | 298 | 3 | 930 | St. John | PIS |
| Messalonskee Lake20 | 3,691 | 30 | 33 | 113 | 177 | 3 | 234 | Kennebec | KEN |
| Cold Stream Pond | 3,619 | 21 | 40 | 104 | 28.5 | 3 | 190 | Penobscot | PEN |
| Indian Pond | 3,455 | 49.2 | 21 | 118 | 1,384 | 2 | 955 | Kennebec | SOM |
| Lobster Lake21 | 3,380 | 29 | 30 | 106 | 58.6 | 1 | 964 | Penobscot | PIS |
| Mattawamkeag Lake22 | 3,323 | 22.1 | 17 | 47 | 313 | 3 | 430 | Penobscot | ARO |
| First Roach Pond26 | 3,320 | 3.5 | 61 | 123 | 70.2 | 3 | 1,227 | Kennebec | PIS |
| Cathance Lake27 | 3,227 | 30.5 | 24 | 75 | 21.4 | 3 | 214 | Coastal | WAS |
| Green Lake28 | 3,132 | 27.8 | 44 | 170 | 59.2 | 3 | 160 | Union | HAN |
| Long Pond29 | 2,951 | 24.1 | 9 | 44 | 558 | 1 | 1,158 | Kennebec | SOM |
| Branch Lake | 2,942 | 26.5 | 39 | 124 | 30.1 | 3 | 238 | Union | HAN |
| Ross Lake (Chemquasabamtic) | 2,925 | 13 | 35 | 105 | 58.9 | 1 | 1,201 | St. John | PIS |
| Attean Pond23 | 2,880 | 30.1 | 15 | 54 | — | 1 | 1,160 | Kennebec | SOM |
County abbreviations reproduce the reference table. Measurements should be read as source data rather than live water-level observations.
Source & context
Where the figures come from
Maine Lakes: Geographic & Morphometric, compiled by P. Vaux, 2010.
Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, and Maine Office of GIS.
Connected lake and place entries
The numbered references identify related entries containing additional local context or imagery.
1 Sebago Lake: Casco, Raymond, and Sebago.
2 Chesuncook.
3 Flagstaff Lake: Carrabassett Valley, Dead River and Flagstaff Lake, Dead River Township, Somerset County Nature Preserves, and Wyman Township.
4 Oxford County Nature Preserves.
5 Piscataquis County Nature Preserves.
6 Great Pond.
7 Township C.
8 Seboomook.
10 St. Agatha.
11 Meddybemps.
12 Rangeley.
13 Harrison.
14 T6R8 WELS.
15 Damariscotta Lake: Jefferson, Newcastle, and Nobleboro.
16 Newport.
17 Leeds.
18 China.
20 Belgrade.
21 Lobster Township.
22 Island Falls.
23 Attean Pond: Canoe Trips and Jackman.
25 Indian Township.
27 Cooper.
28 Dedham.
Continue exploring
Related reference routes
Move from the statewide comparison to lake ecology, mapped places, and outdoor travel.
FAQ
Understanding the lake table
Quick answers about definitions, measurements, and how to use this reference.
What is a “great pond” in Maine?
For this reference, the term describes a natural inland body of water larger than ten acres. The table focuses on the sixty largest lakes in the source dataset.
Which lake is largest by area?
Moosehead Lake leads the table at 75,471 reported acres, substantially larger than Sebago Lake in second place.
Does the longest shoreline belong to the largest lake?
In this table, yes. Moosehead Lake has both the largest area and the greatest reported perimeter, at 280.8 miles.
What does drainage area measure?
It measures the surrounding watershed whose water drains toward a lake. It is not the lake’s surface area.
Why do some values appear as dashes?
A dash indicates that the source table did not supply a value. It should not be interpreted as zero.
How can I find more information about one lake?
Follow linked lake and community names in the table or the numbered references, then use the lake ecology category and map browser for related entries.