Moosehead Lake, Maine

Moosehead Lake in north central Maine is buried in snow seven months of the year, but from June to November is an inviting place for recreational and advanced divers. The lake fills a glacier-scoured basin of 117 square miles. The spring- and tributary-fed lake is 50 miles long and holds steamship wrecks and artifacts from the area's logging era. Ledges and underwater rockslides are numerous as well. Nondivers can catch a scenic ride on a daily steamship cruise that weaves around the lake's islands. Mount Kineo is a popular diving spot, with rock cliffs that rise abruptly from the middle of the lake reaching about 1,000 feet above the water. Ice diving is available from January through March.

Depths to: 240 feet (73 m)

Visibility: 25-35 feet (8-11 m)

Water temperature: 64-78 degrees Fahrenheit (18-26 degrees Celsius) from June to November, with a thermocline that varies from 30 to 45 feet.

Aquatic life: Lake trout, brook trout, suckers, cusk, crayfish, salmon and baitfish such as smelt and shiners.

Fees: None

On-site amenities: Restaurants, inns, motels, sport and novelty shops and banks are within walking distance of the lake. Hiking trails allow visitors to enjoy the magnificent views from the summit of Mount Kineo.

More info: Call the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce at (888) 876-2778. Lily Bay State Park, which may charge an admission fee, abuts the lake and offers camping amenities. Call (207) 695-2700 during the season, and (207) 941-4014 during the off-season.

Open: Year-round

Getting there: In central Maine, take Interstate 95 north to Newport Exit 157, and drive north on State Route 7 about 15 miles to Dexter. From Dexter, take State Route 23 north to Guilford, and from there drive north on Route 15 to Greenville at Moosehead Lake.