5 Amazing Things You Might Not Know About Maine’s Sebago Lake

I have fond memories of spending summers on Sebago Lake in Raymond at my great-grandfather's camp and grandparents' camp. I loved swimming in Sebago because it was such clean water as opposed to the ocean with salty seaweed and low tides. Sadly, my great-grandfather's camp was sold and torn down to make room for a giant mansion. That's progress, I guess?

There are a lot of things about Sebago Lake that are common knowledge, but there are a few things about this magnificent lake that you may not know. Here are five of them:

1. There are almost one trillion gallons of water in Sebago Lake.

One trillion gallons of water works out to be about 729 thousand gallons of water for every person in Maine.

2. Sebago Lake is the deepest lake in Maine.

Sebago Lake is 316 feet deep at its deepest point, making it the deepest lake in Maine (if not New England). There's debate over whether Vermont's Lake Willoughby is deeper. The bottom of the lake even sits below sea level.

3. It's one of the few lakes in Maine that doesn't consistently freeze solid in the winter.

According to the Bangor Daily News, consistently cold temperatures are needed to overcome the deep water and wind-induced water movement that can prevent the freezing process. If the lake does completely freeze, it only lasts for a week or two.

4. There are two 1944 fighter planes at the bottom of the lake.

In 1944, two Royal Navy pilots were on a training mission over Sebago Lake flying Vought D4U Corsairs when they collided and were killed as their planes crashed into the water, sinking 200 feet below the surface. People have wanted to salvage these planes after they were found decades later, but a judge ruled in 2003 that the site can not be disturbed.

5. Sebago Lake is the water source for 20% of Maine's population.

The Portland Water District has been pumping water out of Sebago Lake since the late 1800s to serve customers in Falmouth, Raymond, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Windham, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Gorham, Portland, and Westbrook. Add those populations together and Sebago Lake provides water to 20% of Mainers.