Great East Lake

Acton, Maine & Wakefield, New Hampshire

Area (acres):

1825

Perimeter (miles):

8.1

Mean Depth (feet):

35

Max Depth (feet):

102

Max Length (Miles):

5.5

Max Width (Miles):

1.1

Average Water Transparency (feet):

30.2 

Fishery Type:

Coldwater + Warmwater

With Great East Lake's incredibly clear and pristine waters it is one of the cleanest watersheds in New England. GEL is one of few lakes that remain free of any invasive plant or animal species. This in part is due to the entire water frontage of the lake being privately owned. GEL is part of the Piscataqua River major drainage basin and the Salmon Falls River subdrainage basin. GEL flows into Horn Pond which in turn starts the Salmon Falls River at its outflow. The Salmon Falls River then flows into the Piscataqua River and into the Great Bay estuary and the Gulf of Maine.

Great East Lake hosts an abundance of wildlife including deer, moose, otters, waterfowl, loons and 21 species of fish.