Cape Cod has nearly 1,000 freshwater ponds. The Cape’s natural ponds are the result of the glaciers that left this area 18,000 years ago. Chunks of glacial ice gouged depressions into the substrate, creating “kettle ponds” that are recharged by rain and melting snow.
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How many ponds are there on Cape Cod?
996 ponds
Overview. Cape Cod has 996 ponds that cover nearly 11,000 acres. Most ponds are depressions in the land’s surface that were formed when glaciers left behind large pieces of ice during their retreat approximately 12,000 years ago.
How many lakes and ponds are there in Cape Cod?
996
Freshwater ponds and lakes: Few people know that the Cape is the land of (nearly) a thousand lakes. At least 996 freshwater ponds and lakes cover nearly 11,000 acres, and individual ponds and lakes range in area from less than one acre to 735 acres and include 166 “great ponds” of 10 acres or greater in size.
What is the deepest pond on Cape Cod?
Long Pond
Known as Cape Cod’s largest pond, Long Pond is located on the Lower Cape at the border of Brewster and Harwich and stretches more than 700 acres. This freshwater kettle pond offers crystal clear water and a sandy bottom. The deepest part of Long Pond is 66 feet, with an average water depth of around 23 feet.
Can you swim in Long Pond Cape Cod?
The beach at Long Pond is part of Wixon Memorial Beach in Harwich, a Cape Cod town. There is a roped-off swimming area, picnic area, a beautiful view, and lots of room! Visitors to this beach will also find a canoe/kayak launch and some shaded areas for relaxing with a good book.
Is the water clear in Cape Cod?
Freshwater swimming on Cape Cod
The water is crystal clear, the beaches are often uncrowded and the water is a bit warmer. Our ponds are also the perfect spot to kayak, paddle board or to bring a float and just relax on the water.
What is the biggest lake on Cape Cod?
A peaceful, rural community of cranberry bogs and homes, it has wonderful access to swimming, fishing and kayaking on its lovely large ponds. Long Pond, the Cape’s largest lake and largest inland body of water, has even served as a landing area and base for seaplanes.
What is a kettle pond on Cape Cod?
Kettle ponds are scattered across the outer Cape Cod landscape, an area consisting of glacial outwash plains that formed during the retreat of the Laurentide ice sheet some 18,000 years ago. Depressions in the outwash plain are called kettle holes.
Where does drinking water on Cape Cod come from?
Where does our drinking water come from? The Cape Cod aquifer provides ALL of the Cape’s drinking water. Approximately 85% of Cape Cod is serviced by public water supplies, with the remaining 15% relying on private or privately-owned small volume wells to provide drinking water.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Cape Cod?
The quality of Cape Cod’s community public drinking water supply is generally very good, but over the past 15 years there has been a trend toward some degradation. Nitrate levels in public supply wells have slowly increased over time due to increased loading from septic systems, stormwater, and other nitrogen sources.
Are ponds safe to swim in?
Yes, you can swim in a backyard pond as long as the pond is big enough and the water is clean. A pond needs to be free of harmful bacteria and large enough to support a swimmer without destroying its ecosystem.
What is the clearest lake in Massachusetts?
Located in Osterville, Joshua Pond is the clearest pond in Massachusetts and you should make plans to swim at this pristine swimming hole this summer.
Can you swim in Mashpee pond?
Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds connect just north of this area, making the two ponds Cape Cod’s largest freshwater expanse. This beach location is a great destination for swimming as the water is calm and there is a lifeguard on duty.There is some parking, but a beach parking sticker is required.
What ponds are closed in Cape Cod?
MASHPEE — Santuit and Ashumet ponds are closed to swimming because of blue-green algae blooms — also known as cyanobacteria, which can emit toxins that are harmful to people and wildlife.
Where is Long Pond Cape Cod?
Known as Cape Cod’s largest pond, Long Pond is located on the Lower Cape at the border of Brewster and Harwich and stretches more than 700 acres. This freshwater kettle pond offers crystal clear water and a sandy bottom.
How long is long pond Harwich?
Brewster, MA
Long Pond stretches from Brewster to Harwich, providing over 6 miles of shoreline with houses, beaches, and wooded areas. In Brewster, Long Pond has a great swimming area where there is a lifeguard during summer daytime hours.
Which Cape Cod beaches have sharks?
All ocean beaches on cape cod have sharks. But great whites are more often documented on the outer cape beaches, stretching from Monomoy Island and Chatham all the way up Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. If there are a lot of seals near a beach, then there’s likely an increased presence of sharks.
Are there waves in Cape Cod?
No, it’s not California or Hawaii, but Cape Cod has some great under rated surfing hotspots, and the best part is, with 40 miles of open beach and countless beach breaks, you can find your own, uncrowded waves.All of the Atlantic beaches on the east side of the Cape have surfing potential.
Which side of Cape Cod is better?
If you plan on taking several day trips to Martha’s Vineyard or even visit Newport, Rhode Island then staying in Falmouth or Woods Hole right at the southwestern tip of Cape Cod is best. Falmouth is one of the best walking towns on Cape Cod with a long Main Street and lots of great shops and restaurants.
How big is Long Pond in Cape Cod?
716 acre
Long Pond in Brewster and Harwich is a 716 acre natural great pond, the largest freshwater pond on Cape Cod. It has an average depth of 23 feet and a maximum depth of 66 feet. Transparency is good, extending to 14 feet, and aquatic vegetation is scarce. The bottom is composed of sand and rubble.
Can you swim in wequaquet Lake?
The Wequaquet Lake Beach is a small, quaint beach that offers a pleasant environment for families and is usually uncrowded. The calmer waters are perfect for children, kayakers, and canoers. There is a boat launch, a roped-off swimming area, and limited parking.
