Is it a Lake or a Pond

Most would say it’s size, a lake is bigger, a pond is smaller. That’s actually wrong, the difference is actually a result of the depth.

Ponds, according to limnology (the study of water bodies) are shallow enough where plants could conceivably grow across the entire surface. This area, where plants could grow is known as the photic zone, meaning where the sun’s rays can reach the bottom.

A lake, by contrast, has an aphotic zone, meaning there is an area deep enough that sunlight can’t reach the bottom.

As a result, there are some very small bodies of water, less than an acre, that are deep enough to be called lakes. Conversely, there are some very large, but shallow water bodies, particularly in the South that are technically ponds (though they’re called lakes) because their photic zone expands the entire length and width.

So, at least with lakes and ponds, size doesn’t really matter!

Now, what if a lake became infested with zebra mussels, which cleared the water to the point where lake weeds could grow in depths where they couldn’t before? The jury’s out, but I’d say if it was once a lake, it should continue to be an honorary lake.

What is a Lake...

The lake is a water body fully surrounded by land. When it comes to size, it is said that lakes are larger in size than ponds, but there is no standard size that defines a water body as a lake or a pond. Some experts say that, if the surface area of the water body is larger than 2 acres, it qualifies to be called a lake. But there is no unison among experts from all parts of the world to accept size as a criterion in deciding a lake or a pond. Let us take some other factors.

There are stratified temperatures in case of a lake. So, we have temperatures in the range of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit in the top layer of water. As we go deeper to the middle of the lake, we see a sudden drop in temperature with temperature going down to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. At the bottom of lake, temperatures are the coldest at around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Generally, the lake has waves that prevent vegetation from growing along the shore of a lake. This happens because a lake is deep and has enough water to produce waves that can sweep the shoreline in such a way that makes it difficult for vegetation to sustain itself.

If the depth of the water body is such that the sun’s light is not able to penetrate the bottom surface of the body, it is considered to be a lake. In countries with cold climates, the lakes are much deeper and more difficult to become frozen. Some lakes are so large that they affect the surrounding climate.

What is a Pond...

The pond is also a completed landlocked body of water. In size, a pond is typically considered to be smaller than a lake – but that is not an accepted singular definition of what differs a pond from a lake. There seems to be a difference in the temperature of the water inside a pond and a lake. The ponds, not being very deep, have more or less the same temperature along the water body. In other words, the temperatures of the ponds are more or less constant and do not change very much with the water depth.

Ponds are identified with rooted plants growing along its body. The bottom of the pond is often muddy. Also, there is not much wave action to prevent vegetation along the edges of the pond.

In case of a pond, photosynthesis takes place even at the bottom most layer of the water body. This is because the water body is shallow enough to let the sunlight penetrate the water body. In countries with cold climates, it is seen that ponds often freeze. It is really interesting that ponds are often affected by the surrounding climate, as opposed to large lakes that actually affect [the] climate.

The Decision Is...

So, officially, Sheepscot Lake is actually Sheepscot Pond, but we here on Bald Head Island call it a Big Beautiful Lake no matter what the experts say.

A little about our lake...

Sheepscot Pond (also called Sheepscot Lake) is the third-largest lake in Waldo County, Maine. It is in the township of Palermo, on the western edge of Waldo County. The lake has a maximum depth of 150 feet with well-oxygenated water. It contains more than 20 species of fish, and has historically been stocked with salmon, lake trout, and brook trout. Attempts have been made to limit the lamprey eel population by closing the Alaskan Steep-Pass fishway to anadromous fish during their spawning migrations. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has rated the water quality of Sheepscot Pond as average, with total phosphorus concentrations of 5-10 parts per billion, and no significant positive or negative trend in Secchi disk transparencies. The lake provides water for the Palermo Fish Cultural Station.

Some History of Palermo, Maine

By Geo. J. Varney Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill, Boston 1886

Palermo, the south-western town of Waldo County, has Montville and Liberty on the east, Freedom in Waldo, and Albion in Kennebec County on the north, China on the west, arid Somerville in Lincoln, and Washington in Knox County on the south. This town is about 8½ miles long N.N.E. and S.S.W., and about 5½ miles in width. The surface is generally varied with hilld and dales; and having good roads, is extremely pleasant for summer drives. Sheepscot Great Pond, 1½ square miles in area, lies in the southern part of the town. Branch Pond, on the north-western border, is the next in size; and scattered over the town are numerous smaller ones. The soil is good, consisting mainly of a gravelly loam. The inhabitants are principally devoted to agriculture. The largest village is Branch Mills (Palermo P. 0.), but a portion of it is in the adjoining town of China. It is situated on the outlet of Branch Pond on the western line. There are at this place eight mills manufacturing boards, shingles, staves and headings. At North Palerma is a manufactory of drag-rakes; at the Centre is a board and shingle-mill, and a stone quarry; at East Palermo are two lumber-mills. This town is 25 miles west of Belfast, on the stage-route to Augusta, the latter being about 18 miles distant. Vassalboro is the nearest railroad station.

Palermo was earliest known as Sheepscot Great Pond, from the body of water in the southern part of the town through which the Sheepscot River runs, and around which were the first settlements. The petition for incorporation was presented in 1801, and set forth among other things that they had a great proportion of roads to make and maintain within their bounds, and 10 miles of road at least out of their limits, which road led to the head of navigation on Sheepscot River, their nearest market.’ Among the 55 signers of this petition were Gabriel Hamilton, Jacob Greely, Jabez Lewis, James Dennis, William C. Hay, Joseph Whittier, Charles Lewis, Samuel and Stephen Longfellow, John Gliddon and Joseph Bowler. The township was surveyed in August, 1800, by William Davis. The act of incorporaton was passed June 23 1804.

The churches in this town are those of the Baptists, Free Baptists, and Methodists. The number of public schoolhouses is 13; and their value is set at $3,500. The population in 1870 was 1,223. In 1880 it was 1,118. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $241,433. In 1880 it was $254,966.

If this article was interesting reading, you may like to know some other historical facts about New England, or more specifically about many other Maine towns.