What’s the Largest Manmade Lake in Maine?

Written by Mike Edmisten
Updated: September 14, 2023
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Located in the North Maine Woods, Chesuncook Lake is the largest manmade lake in Maine. Covering 26,200 acres, the lake is actually the third largest lake overall in the state, trailing only Moosehead Lake and Sebago Lake.

In recent years, fishery biologists have become concerned that the lake is actually overpopulated with fish.

The Making of the Largest Manmade Lake in Maine

Successive dam-building on the West Branch Penobscot River created Chesuncook Lake. The construction of dams in 1835 and 1903 contributed to the lake’s formation, but the 92-foot Ripogenus Dam, started in 1916 and completed in 1920, formed the Chesuncook Lake we know today. The Ripogenus Dam impounds Chesuncook Lake, Ripogenus Lake, Caribou Lake, and Moose Pond, greatly expanding Chesuncook Lake, which now has a maximum depth of 150 feet. After completion of the dam, Chesuncook Lake could provide the water storage needed for log drives on the Kennebec River. In 1953, the McKay hydroelectric station was built, and the dam supplied power to paper mills in Millinocket, as well as being utilized to send pulpwood to those mills.

Henry David Thoreau visited the lake after the first dam construction in the 19th century. He recorded his thoughts on the lake and surrounding area in his book, The Maine Woods. But Thoreau never saw the expanse of the lake as we know it now.

Chesuncook Lake

Chesuncook Lake is located in north-central Maine and is the result of dams built on the West Branch Penobscot River.

©iStock.com/mountinez

Where Is Chesuncook Lake Located on a Map?

Chesuncook Lake is located in north-central Maine. It is 113 miles north of Bangor. A drive there from the city would take approximately 3 hours.

Chesuncook Lake Today

Today, Chesuncook Lake is a hub of recreational activity. The lake is the launch point for whitewater rafting in the Penobscot River. The river features Class V rapids and draws thousands of adrenaline-seeking rafters each year.

The lake is renowned as a landlocked salmon fishery. Brook trout, lake trout, white perch, and yellow perch are also plentiful in its waters. In recent years, fishery biologists have become concerned that the lake is actually overpopulated with fish. Fishing derbies and adjusted laws and regulations have been put in place to try to lower the overall fish population in the lake. 

Landlocked salmon

Chesuncook Lake is a great landlocked salmon fishery.

©iStock.com/spothier

Boating and camping are also popular pastimes on the lake. There are a number of wilderness campsites on the lakeshores.

Hunting is also quite popular, as the area around Chesuncook Lake is rich with white-tail deerbearsmoose, and grouse.

ruffed grouse

Grouse are plentiful in the area, one of many animals that make Chesuncook Lake a premier hunting destination.

©iStock.com/SteveOehlenschlager

Another lovely destination in the area is the historic Chesuncook Lake House. The owners built the small wilderness lodge in Chesuncook Village as a farmhouse and boarding house in 1864 and used it to supply logging operations in northern Maine. During his visit to the lake, Henry David Thoreau stayed at the Chesuncook Lake House. Although the Chesuncook Lake House was once only accessible by boat, float plane, or snowmobile, it is now also accessible by vehicle. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the original 1864 structure in 2018, but the owners have since rebuilt it to feature the same tranquil views of the lake and Mt. Katahdin that Thoreau enjoyed.

The Irony of the Largest Manmade Lake in Maine

Much of the shore of Chesuncook Lake remains undeveloped and wild. Often the stillness of these waters is only disturbed by a fish’s leap, an eagle’s cry, or the call of a loon. Ironically, Maine’s largest manmade lake is a superb place to get back to nature. We’re pretty sure Thoreau would approve.

Birds that look like ducks: Common Loon

Sometimes, a loon’s iconic call is the only sound you’ll hear on Chesuncook Lake.

©iStock.com/BrianLasenby

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Tudoran Andrei/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Mike is a writer at A-Z Animals where his primary focus is on geography, agriculture, and marine life. A graduate of Cincinnati Christian University and a resident of Cincinnati, OH, Mike is deeply passionate about the natural world. In his free time, he, his wife, and their two sons love the outdoors, especially camping and exploring US National Parks.

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