Long Lake (Maine)
Encyclopedia
Long Lake is an eleven mile (18 kilometer) lake
between the towns of Naples, Maine
, Bridgton, Maine and Harrison, Maine
. It is connected to Brandy Pond through the Chute River
. Long Lake was created by receding glacier
s, and has many coves and rocks.
Canal boats
from Portland
harbor reached Long Lake through the Cumberland and Oxford Canal
, completed in 1832. The canal's Songo Lock
facilities still control Long Lake water level. Each November, Long Lake is drained by about 3 feet so that melting snow does not cause a flood in the spring. The lake is the site of many summer camps, including Camp Newfound, Camp Owatonna, Camp Takajo, and Camp Wildwood (actually located on nearby Wood's Pond).
The famous author, E.B. White, owned a vacation house on Long Lake in the North Bridgton section. Long Lake is the home of fictional character David Drayton in Stephen King
's 1980 novella
, The Mist
, which was made into a 2007 movie, The Mist
. Long Lake is the story's opening setting, as well as origin of the mysterious mist.
Long Lake is home to many species of wildlife, which given the growing use of the lake for recreational purposes must be respected. Most notably, loons which can be heard at night and whose song is sought by so many visitors. Loon nests can be seen on the shoreline but must never be disturbed. Visitors to the lake should be cautious around these nests and should avoid any disturbance, including noise. Boaters should also take extra caution to be watchful of loons on the lake and avoid creating large wakes close by.
Boaters should also inspect their crafts before entering the lake for millfoil, a growing problem in New England lakes.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
between the towns of Naples, Maine
Naples, Maine
Naples is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The population was 3,274 at the 2000 census, and it is home to part of Sebago Lake State Park. Naples is a resort area.-History:The area...
, Bridgton, Maine and Harrison, Maine
Harrison, Maine
Harrison is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census. A historic resort area, Harrison straddles Long Lake and Crystal Lake...
. It is connected to Brandy Pond through the Chute River
Chute River
The Chute River is in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and connects Long Lake to Brandy Pond in Naples. It is spanned by U.S. Route 302 at the Naples Swing Bridge....
. Long Lake was created by receding glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s, and has many coves and rocks.
Canal boats
Narrowboat
A narrowboat or narrow boat is a boat of a distinctive design, made to fit the narrow canals of Great Britain.In the context of British Inland Waterways, "narrow boat" refers to the original working boats built in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries for carrying goods on the narrow canals...
from Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
harbor reached Long Lake through the Cumberland and Oxford Canal
Cumberland and Oxford Canal
The Cumberland and Oxford Canal was opened in 1832 to connect the largest lakes of southern Maine with the seaport of Portland, Maine. The canal followed the Presumpscot River from Sebago Lake through the towns of Standish, Windham, Gorham, and Westbrook. The Canal diverged from the river at...
, completed in 1832. The canal's Songo Lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
facilities still control Long Lake water level. Each November, Long Lake is drained by about 3 feet so that melting snow does not cause a flood in the spring. The lake is the site of many summer camps, including Camp Newfound, Camp Owatonna, Camp Takajo, and Camp Wildwood (actually located on nearby Wood's Pond).
The famous author, E.B. White, owned a vacation house on Long Lake in the North Bridgton section. Long Lake is the home of fictional character David Drayton in Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's 1980 novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
, The Mist
The Mist
The Mist is a horror novella by the American author Stephen King, in which the small town of Bridgton, Maine is suddenly enveloped in an unnatural mist that conceals otherworldly monsters. It was first published as the first and longest story of the 1980 horror anthology Dark Forces. A slightly...
, which was made into a 2007 movie, The Mist
The Mist (film)
The Mist is a 2007 American science-fiction horror film based on the 1980 novella of the same name by Stephen King. The film is written and directed by Frank Darabont, who had previously adapted Stephen King's works The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile...
. Long Lake is the story's opening setting, as well as origin of the mysterious mist.
Long Lake is home to many species of wildlife, which given the growing use of the lake for recreational purposes must be respected. Most notably, loons which can be heard at night and whose song is sought by so many visitors. Loon nests can be seen on the shoreline but must never be disturbed. Visitors to the lake should be cautious around these nests and should avoid any disturbance, including noise. Boaters should also take extra caution to be watchful of loons on the lake and avoid creating large wakes close by.
Boaters should also inspect their crafts before entering the lake for millfoil, a growing problem in New England lakes.