Why is August Full Moon called the Sturgeon Moon? Why is it named the Sturgeon Moon?
The name "Sturgeon Moon" of the August supermoon derives from a large sturgeon fish.
August's full moon was formerly known as the "Sturgeon Moon" because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most easily caught during this time of summer.
Sturgeon are a group of large fish that have been named "living fossils" because they have remained nearly unchanged for more than 100 million years.
In the past, sturgeons were abundantly available, and the Algonquin tribes of North America were able to catch them with more ease.
But, overfishing and habitat loss have resulted in a great decline in their population.
The lake sturgeon is the most common sturgeon in the Great Lakes; males can live for 55 years while females can live for 150 years.
It can grow to over two meters long (6 feet) and weigh over 90 kilos (200 pounds), making it the largest freshwater fish on the American continent.