Mascoma Lake
Encyclopedia
Mascoma Lake is a 1165 acres (4.7 km²) lake in western New Hampshire
, United States
. Most of the lake is located within the town of Enfield
, while a small portion is within the city of Lebanon
, where it drains into the Mascoma River
, a tributary of the Connecticut River
.
The lake's general trend is from southeast to northwest, with the outlet at the northwestern end. The Mascoma River enters the lake near its halfway point, from the northeastern side, at the town center of Enfield. The southeastern end of the lake is fed by the Knox River
. The lake's average depth is 30 feet (9.1 m) with a maximum depth of 68 feet (20.7 m).
The lake freezes during winter and is stable enough to be walked upon. Ice fishing is popular on the lake. The lake is stocked with trout by the New Hampshire Fish and Game department.
Mascoma Lake often has a spring cyanobacteria bloom. In June 2009 the State of New Hampshire discouraged people from recreation in some areas of the lake because of the bloom. However, the lake is generally considered safe for swimming, and the town of Enfield maintains a public beach with a lifeguard on the lake.
NASA
and its partners have used the frozen lake to test a robotic rover
as a simulation of Antarctica.
Mascoma Lake is home to the Dartmouth College
sailing team. A community sailing club called the Shaker Village Sailing Club also uses the lake.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Most of the lake is located within the town of Enfield
Enfield, New Hampshire
Enfield is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,582 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Enfield, Enfield Center, Upper Shaker Village, Lower Shaker Village, Lockehaven, and Montcalm....
, while a small portion is within the city of Lebanon
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
, where it drains into the Mascoma River
Mascoma River
The Mascoma River is a 31.6 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound. The Mascoma comprises two sections which are split by Mascoma Lake in the communities of Enfield and Lebanon...
, a tributary of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
.
The lake's general trend is from southeast to northwest, with the outlet at the northwestern end. The Mascoma River enters the lake near its halfway point, from the northeastern side, at the town center of Enfield. The southeastern end of the lake is fed by the Knox River
Knox River
The Knox River is a 2.5 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. The river is an inlet of Mascoma Lake, which drains by the Mascoma River to the Connecticut River and ultimately Long Island Sound....
. The lake's average depth is 30 feet (9.1 m) with a maximum depth of 68 feet (20.7 m).
The lake freezes during winter and is stable enough to be walked upon. Ice fishing is popular on the lake. The lake is stocked with trout by the New Hampshire Fish and Game department.
Mascoma Lake often has a spring cyanobacteria bloom. In June 2009 the State of New Hampshire discouraged people from recreation in some areas of the lake because of the bloom. However, the lake is generally considered safe for swimming, and the town of Enfield maintains a public beach with a lifeguard on the lake.
NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and its partners have used the frozen lake to test a robotic rover
LORAX (robot)
The Life On ice: Robotic Antarctic eXplorer or LORAX is an experimental robotics project being developed by the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, supported by NASA. The intent of the project is to create an autonomous rover to survey the distribution of microbes on Antarctica's ice...
as a simulation of Antarctica.
Mascoma Lake is home to the Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
sailing team. A community sailing club called the Shaker Village Sailing Club also uses the lake.