Oriented north-south, the lake is nestled in a valley in the Notre Dame Mountains, part of the Appalachian Range. Route 289 runs along the southern and western shores through the municipality of Pohénégamook—an amalgamation of several villages.
The community of Estcourt Station, Maine, (the northernmost point in New England) is located immediately south of the CN railway line at the lake's southern shore.
Toponymy
The name of Lake Pohenegamook comes from the Abenakiponegamikw and means 'winter camp'. Many other translations have also appeated over time, like 'drawn in the form of a lying man', 'lake of laughter', 'lake of mockery', 'deep lake' or 'place of resting'.[1]
According to legend, a monster that looks like an upturned canoe covered in scales called the Ponik lives in the lake. It is possible that the monster's appearance was conceived from the mistaken observation of a sturgeon, from stories of sea serpents, or from logs floating in the lake's waters. The legend of the Ponik has a positive impact on the lake and the city of Pohenegamook, as it makes them both more known to many Quebecers.