Say What: Five Lakes With Funny Names

Prettyboy Reservoir

One of three reservoirs that provides Baltimore with water, it contains 19 billion gallons of water at any given time. And supports about 2 million residents across four Maryland counties.

According to the Prettyboy Watershed Alliance, it gets its name from a horse:

“…a farmer had a beautiful white colt named ‘Pretty Boy’, which was the pride of the neighborhood. The colt was out in the pasture bordering a stream that was a tributary of the Gunpowder River. Suddenly a thunderstorm arose and the colt was forced to seek shelter near the bank of the stream. Sadly, the colt fell into the stream and perished. From that time on, in memory of the colt, the tributary was named ‘Prettyboy’.”

Lake Chaubunagungamaug

Residing in Webster, Mass. near the Connecticut border, this lake sometimes goes by “Webster Lake.” But the U.S. Department of Interior recognizes the lake by its longer name. “Chaubunagungamaug” comes from the Algonquian Indian language. There is also a 45-letter version of the name – it is rarely used.

Pony Express Lake

This Missouri lake is in the state’s northwest corner and a popular fishing spot. The Missouri Department of Conservation stocks it with catfish and there is a small population of bass. It also supports camping grounds.

It gets its name from the Pony Express mail service that began in 1860 just 25 miles away in the city of St. Joseph.

Strawberry Reservoir

This water body is the state of Utah’s most popular fishery. Game fish in its water include rainbow trout, bear lake cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and crayfish. It was formed after a dam was built to divert water from the Strawberry Valley into Utah Valley.

It gets its name from the Strawberry Valley where it resides.

Lake Memphremagog

Sitting between the U.S. state of Vermont and the city of Quebec in Canada, this lake is fed by four rivers. It’s noted as the third deepest lake in Vermont and contains 20 islands, the largest of which (Province Island) is divided by the international border.

Its name comes from an Algonquian Indian term that means “where there is a big expanse of water.” A lake monster named Memphre is rumored to live in its depths.

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