lake in Belknap and Carroll counties, east-central New Hampshire, U.S. It lies at the foothills of the White Mountains east of Laconia. The state's largest lake, Winnipesaukee is of glacial origin and irregular in shape. It is 20 miles (32 km) long and as much as 12 miles (19 km) wide and dotted with some 275 islands, the largest of which is Long Island. The lake is a popular summer recreation area, with boat cruises, wooded shorelines, and many coves and bays. Its outlet, the Winnipesaukee River, flows about 20 miles southwest to Franklin, where it enters the Merrimack River. The meaning of the lake's Indian name is much disputed, but a commonly accepted translation is “good outlet.”