| Lake Winnisquam | |
|---|---|
 Kayaking on the lake | |
  Location in the state of New Hampshire | |
| Location | Belknap County, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°32′42″N71°30′32″W / 43.54500°N 71.50889°W /43.54500; -71.50889 |
| Type | lake |
| Primary inflows | Winnipesaukee River |
| Primary outflows | Winnipesaukee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 10.5 miles (16.9 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Surface area | 4,214 acres (17.05 km2) |
| Max. depth | 155 feet (47 m) |
| Shore length1 | 30 miles (48 km)[1] |
| Surface elevation | 482 feet (147 m) |
| Islands | Loon Island; Three Islands; Pot Island; Hog Island; Mohawk Island |
| Settlements | Meredith;Laconia;Sanbornton;Belmont;Tilton (villages ofWinnisquam andLochmere) |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Winnisquam is inBelknap County in theLakes Region of centralNew Hampshire, United States, in the communities ofMeredith,Laconia,Sanbornton,Belmont, andTilton. At 4,214 acres (1,705 ha),[1] it is the fourth-largest lake entirely in New Hampshire. The lake is roughly triangular in shape, with the vertexes pointing north, east, and south. The lake lies along the path of theWinnipesaukee River, which enters the lake from its eastern corner and carries water fromLake Winnipesaukee viaPaugus Bay andOpechee Bay. The river also flows south out of Winnisquam's southern corner, eventually joining theMerrimack River. The lake extends several miles north from the course of the Winnipesaukee River, which forms the lake's southeastern side, with the northern point being formed by the confluence of several smaller creeks near the village of Meredith Center. The lake has a maximum depth of 155 feet (47 m).[2]
The lake is only a few miles fromInterstate 93 via Exit 20 forU.S. Route 3 andNew Hampshire Route 11. Winnisquam has two basins, a larger northern basin and a smaller southern one, with a bridge carrying Routes 3 and 11 separating them. The village ofWinnisquam is at the bridge.
TheAbenaki people occupied the Winnisquam and Winnipesaukee area until colonists arrived in the mid-18th century. Winnisquam's surrounding county,Belknap, was founded in 1840 and named afterJeremy Belknap, aCongregational clergyman and prominent historian.[3]
Lake Winnisquam is home to many species of fish. Cold water species includerainbow trout,lake trout,landlocked salmon, andwhitefish. The warm water species includesmall- andlargemouth bass,pickerel,horned pout,white perch,northern pike,walleye,black crappie,bluegill, andyellow perch. Remote lake and brook trout stocking is common when authorities find it necessary.[4]
Ahern State Park[5] is on the eastern shore of the lake.
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