Lake Umbagog

Umbagog Lake is a wilderness lake located in Coös County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine. It is one of the most pristine lakes in the state of New Hampshire. It lies in the towns of Errol, New Hampshire, and Upton, Maine, as well as the townships of Cambridge, New Hampshire and Magalloway Plantation, Maine. The name Umbagog is properly pronounced with the stress on the second syllable (um-BAY-gog) and is said to come from the Abenaki word for "shallow water".

The lake is part of the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and a New Hampshire state park. Along its southernmost shore, there is a public campground and a public boat launch ramp which may be accessed from New Hampshire Route 26. There are 26 wilderness campsites, accessible only by boat, which are located around the lake. An interesting feature along its northwest shore is an expansive natural floating island composed of generations of decomposing marshland vegetation. The area is abundant with wildlife, including coyote, wild turkey, bald eagle, osprey, bobcat, moose, rabbit, bear, and many other native species.

The lake runs almost 11 miles (18 km) north to south. Its surface area is 7,850 acres (31.8 km²), making it the largest lake along the Maine/New Hampshire border. Its average depth is less than 15 feet (4.6 m), and its maximum depth is 48 feet (15 m). A deep section at the north end (aptly named "Deep Hole") may exceed 75 feet (23 m). The lake's area and depth were markedly increased with the construction of a dam at Errol in the 19th century.