Ossipee River
Encyclopedia
The Ossipee River is an 18.3 miles (29.5 km) river
in eastern New Hampshire
and western Maine
in the United States
. It is a tributary of the Saco River
, which flows southeast to the Atlantic Ocean
at Saco, Maine
.
The Ossipee River begins at the village of Effingham Falls, New Hampshire, at the outlet of Berry Bay, the farthest downstream of a chain of lakes connected to Ossipee Lake
. The river, flowing east, forms the border between the towns of Effingham
and Freedom
. Entering Maine, the river continues to serve as a municipal boundary, first between Porter
and Parsonsfield
, and then between Hiram
and Cornish
. Kezar Falls
, a village in the town of Porter, forms a significant community along the river, with two dam impoundments.
Route
25
follows the river for its entire length.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in eastern New Hampshire
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...
and western Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a tributary of the Saco River
Saco River
The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine in the United States. It drains a rural area of of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay, from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000...
, which flows southeast to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Saco, Maine
Saco, Maine
Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems , a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics...
.
The Ossipee River begins at the village of Effingham Falls, New Hampshire, at the outlet of Berry Bay, the farthest downstream of a chain of lakes connected to Ossipee Lake
Ossipee Lake
Ossipee Lake is located in Carroll County in eastern New Hampshire, in the communities of Ossipee and Freedom. At 3,245 acres, it is the sixth-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire. The lake is fed by the West Branch , the Bearcamp and Lovell rivers , and the Pine River...
. The river, flowing east, forms the border between the towns of Effingham
Effingham, New Hampshire
Effingham is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,465. Effingham includes the villages of Effingham Falls, Effingham , Center Effingham , and South Effingham...
and Freedom
Freedom, New Hampshire
Freedom is a town located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,489 at the 2010 census. The town's eastern boundary runs along the Maine state border. Ossipee Lake, with a resort and camps, is in the southwest of the town....
. Entering Maine, the river continues to serve as a municipal boundary, first between Porter
Porter, Maine
Porter is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. It is included in the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area. Porter includes Porter village and part of Kezar Falls. The population was 1,438 at the 2000 census.-History:The land was once...
and Parsonsfield
Parsonsfield, Maine
Parsonsfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. Parsonsfield includes the villages of Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, and North, East and South Parsonsfield...
, and then between Hiram
Hiram, Maine
Hiram is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,423 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of Hiram, East Hiram, South Hiram and Durgintown...
and Cornish
Cornish, Maine
Cornish is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,269 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
. Kezar Falls
Kezar Falls, Maine
Kezar Falls is a small village on the Ossipee River in the town of Porter in Oxford County, Maine, United States.- External links :...
, a village in the town of Porter, forms a significant community along the river, with two dam impoundments.
Route
New Hampshire Route 25
New Hampshire Route 25 is a long east–west state highway in New Hampshire. It runs completely across the state from Vermont to Maine.The western terminus of Route 25 is at the Vermont state line on the Connecticut River in Piermont, where the road continues west as Vermont Route 25...
25
State Route 25 (Maine)
State Route 25 is a state highway in Maine running about in length from U.S. 1 in the city of Portland, westward to Porter at the New Hampshire state line. From that state line the road continues westward as New Hampshire Route 25...
follows the river for its entire length.