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Located some 65 miles west of Boston is the Quabbin Reservoir. Quabbin is an Indian name meaning "land of many waters", and it truly is just that. Construction began in 1927 and was completed in 1939. It is one of the largest domestic water supplies today supplying over 2.5 million people in the metropolitan Boston area. The reservoir covers 39 square miles and has an average depth of 51 feet, and is said to hold 412 billion gallons of water. It is 18 miles long and has a perimeter shoreline of 118 miles. It is an outstanding mixture of technology and nature. Under land management by the Metropolitan District Commission, Division of Watershed Management, are thousands of acres of forests, which act as a superb refuge for all wildlife. It is open year round to the public in search of natural beauty, and offers many peaceful settings, which nurture the mind and renew the spirit. The history of the lost towns and villages, which lie beneath the man-made lake, combined with the engineering marvel of the dam, make the site a fascinating educational opportunity as well. Quabbin hosts over a half million visitors each year from points all over the world. Thirty five hundred acres and thirteen miles of paved roads are available for public use. At the South end of the reservoir are the Winsor Dam and Goodnough Dike off Route 9 between Ware and Belchertown. This area is known as Quabbin Park. It offers hiking, magnificent vistas, picnicking, and an excellent opportunity to study nature. Bird watchers have observed many species including the Bald Eagle. In the Northern end at Gate 32, fishing, boating and hunting with a special permit are permissible. As the water travels by an underground aqueduct it passes below the shaft 8 in Barre. Shaft 8 is where the water can be diverted to flow into the Quabbin Reservoir from the Ware River or from the Quabbin Reservoir into the Wachusett Reservoir and from there to Boston. For further information call the Quabbin Visitor Center at (413) 323-7221. Member List [ Athol Savings Bank ] [ Barre Business Association ] [ Barre Opticians ] [ Barre Savings Bank ] [ The Inn at Clamber Hill ] [ Coldbrook ] [ The Country Gourmet ] [ The Harding Allen Estate ] [ Hardwick Sugar Shack ] [ Hartman's Herb Farm ] [ Higgins Energy Alternatives ] [ Overlook Farm - Heifer Project International ] [ Petersham Craft Center ] [ Robert A. Rapisarda, D.M.D. ] [ Stevens Farm Inn B&B ] [ Village Common Shoppes ]

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This publication is funded in part by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Economic Development Office of Travel and Tourism and by the Barre Business Association Comments/corrections to: tourism@CentralQuabbin.org Last modified on: December 13, 2006           Mass. Highway Dept.       Mass. Turnpike

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