Lake Massapoag
Lake Massapoag | |
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Lake Massapoag | |
Location | Sharon, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Coordinates | 42°6′4″N 71°10′37″W / 42.10111°N 71.17694°WCoordinates: 42°6′4″N 71°10′37″W / 42.10111°N 71.17694°W |
Type | natural freshwater lake |
Primary inflows | springs |
Primary outflows | Canoe River |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 353 acres (143 ha) |
Average depth | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
Max. depth | 45 ft (14 m) |
Surface elevation | 249 ft (76 m)[1] |
Lake Massapoag is a 353-acre (1.43 km2), natural, springfed lake located in Sharon, Massachusetts. The name Massapoag is Algonquin, meaning "large water".[2]
Lake Massapoag is the headwaters of the Massapoag Brook, which flows into the Neponset River.
History[]
In the 18th century, workers deepened the outlet of the lake to draw the water down in order to extract bog iron for the smelting industry.[3]
Lake Massapoag was the site of a large 19th-century ice business, with an enormous wooden icehouse at the eastern end of the lake.
Because of the lake and the fact that Sharon is at a slightly higher elevation than the surrounding towns, and because it is located on the main rail line going south from Boston, the shores of the lake developed into a minor summer resort with several large hotels, summer camps and cottage colonies. Temple Adath Sharon was built as a summer synagogue, and the houses around it, now occupied year-round, were once summer cottages.
In June 2020, two girls saved a man in distress 40 yards away from shore. The girls were recognized by the town for their heroic acts.
Recreation[]
The site of the former ice house is now a large town beach. The beach was created by trucking in quantities of sand after the ice house burned down.
The lake is also popular for sailing and sailboarding. The , Sharon High School Sailing Team, and Dover Sherborn High School Sailing Team train on Lake Massapoag.
References[]
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Massapoag
- ^ "Sharon Massachusetts, 1890". Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ^ Diana Muir (2000). Reflections in Bullough's Pond. University Press of New England. p. 167. ISBN 0-87451-909-8.
External links[]
- Sharon, Massachusetts
- Lakes of Massachusetts
- Lakes of Norfolk County, Massachusetts