Songo Lock, Historic lock in Naples, United States
Songo Lock connects Sebago Lake to Brandy Pond and Long Lake through a manually operated water level control system. The structure uses wooden gates standing about 4 feet (1.2 meters) high to regulate water flow between the different sections of the waterway.
Built in 1830, this lock was part of a larger 50-mile waterway system that enabled lumber transport from Portland Harbor to Harrison. When the railroad arrived in 1869, the waterway lost its commercial importance, though the lock continued operating.
Locals and boaters use the lock as a working part of their waterway, and visitors can watch people manually operate the wooden gates. This hands-on interaction connects people directly to how water transport once shaped the region.
You can observe the lock from the shoreline or get closer to examine the structure and wooden gates in detail. It is best to visit during dry weather and wear sturdy shoes, as the terrain around the lock can be uneven and muddy.
This is the only surviving lock from more than 30 that were built across Maine in the 1830s to link Long Lake with the Atlantic Ocean. Its continued operation makes it a living relic of an ambitious water transport network that few people know about today.
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