Skeleton Lake (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Skeleton Lake is a lake
in the municipalities of Huntsville
and Muskoka Lakes
in the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario
, Canada
, about 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of the town centre of Huntsville. Up until 1991, the Ministry of Natural Resources
operated a fish hatchery on the lake.
drainage basin
. The sole outflow is the Skeleton River at the west of the lake. It is controlled by the Skeleton Lake Dam and flows through the community of Bent River to Skeleton Bay on Lake Rosseau
.
There are two public use islands in the area. The Hog's Back is a small rock island with lots of religious oriented graffiti and a fire pit near Greer Bay. Anderson's island has a population of silver birches, along with a cliff-jumping area on the south-east side of the island, and also has much religious oriented graffiti carved into the trees and painted onto rocks.
impact. About 800 million years ago, an asteroid impact is suspected to have created a crater much larger than the remnant lake. Periods of glaciation since then have removed the original crater, leaving a lake approximately 2.2 miles across and 100 meters deep at its center. Skeleton Lake is recognized as a suspected impact crater. Ironclad evidence of the impact hypothesis would have been removed during the ice ages, and unless more shock geomorphology is found the crater's origin cannot be certified beyond a reasonable doubt. Due to the spring fed nature of the lake, the water is exceptionally clear. According to residents of the lake, on calm days it is possible to see up to 30 metres (98 ft) underwater with the naked eye.
Fishing is very difficult in the lake. Bass and trout can be caught. In the spring, lake trout will strike at minnows in cold shallow water. Later in the summer, trout like to stay in cold water below the second thermocline, which is typically 50–70 feet. This requires down-riggers to get the bait to the right depth. Bass can be caught in shallower depths.
There is a cottagers' association for the many cottagers who spend their time at Skeleton Lake.
, a Jewish summer camp; Camp Kwasind, a Baptist camp; and Camp Newport
, operated by The Salvation Army
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the municipalities of Huntsville
Huntsville, Ontario
Huntsville is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located north of Toronto and south of North Bay....
and Muskoka Lakes
Muskoka Lakes, Ontario
The Township of Muskoka Lakes is an area municipality of the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario. It has a year-round population of 6,467 and a summer population of 34,000.-History and government:...
in the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, about 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of the town centre of Huntsville. Up until 1991, the Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that responsible for Ontario’s provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province...
operated a fish hatchery on the lake.
Geography
The lake is about 8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi) long and 4.8 kilometres (3 mi) wide, lies at an elevation of 280 metres (919 ft) and is in the Lake HuronLake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. The sole outflow is the Skeleton River at the west of the lake. It is controlled by the Skeleton Lake Dam and flows through the community of Bent River to Skeleton Bay on Lake Rosseau
Lake Rosseau
Lake Rosseau is located in Ontario about 200 kilometers north of Toronto. The lake is surrounded by many cottages, some dating back to the late 19th century. The south end of the lake is in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and the north end is in Seguin Township. Lake Rosseau is connected to Lake...
.
There are two public use islands in the area. The Hog's Back is a small rock island with lots of religious oriented graffiti and a fire pit near Greer Bay. Anderson's island has a population of silver birches, along with a cliff-jumping area on the south-east side of the island, and also has much religious oriented graffiti carved into the trees and painted onto rocks.
Geology
The lake is thought to have been formed as a result of a meteoriteMeteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
impact. About 800 million years ago, an asteroid impact is suspected to have created a crater much larger than the remnant lake. Periods of glaciation since then have removed the original crater, leaving a lake approximately 2.2 miles across and 100 meters deep at its center. Skeleton Lake is recognized as a suspected impact crater. Ironclad evidence of the impact hypothesis would have been removed during the ice ages, and unless more shock geomorphology is found the crater's origin cannot be certified beyond a reasonable doubt. Due to the spring fed nature of the lake, the water is exceptionally clear. According to residents of the lake, on calm days it is possible to see up to 30 metres (98 ft) underwater with the naked eye.
Folklore
Skeleton Lake is so named because when surveyors were working on the north shore, they came upon two skeletons resting on the rocks. When they asked a local Indian chief where the skeletons came from, they were told that he and his people had camped one winter on Skeleton Lake. When food became scarce the tribe decided to move elsewhere. One mother, with a fourteen-year-old son too weak to move, refused to accompany them. They died together of starvation, and the lake was named in memory of this mother and her son.Recreation
The open body of water in Skeleton Lake is about the largest open body of water in all the Muskoka Lakes. This makes it an excellent lake for such sports as sailing and windsurfing, though there can be rough water.Fishing is very difficult in the lake. Bass and trout can be caught. In the spring, lake trout will strike at minnows in cold shallow water. Later in the summer, trout like to stay in cold water below the second thermocline, which is typically 50–70 feet. This requires down-riggers to get the bait to the right depth. Bass can be caught in shallower depths.
There is a cottagers' association for the many cottagers who spend their time at Skeleton Lake.
Summer Camps
Skeleton Lake is home to several religion-based camps including Camp Ramah in CanadaCamp Ramah in Canada
Camp Ramah in Canada, is a Jewish summer camp located in the community of Utterson in the town of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.The Max and Beatrice Wolfe Campus is located on Skeleton Lake, a two and a half hour drive from Toronto...
, a Jewish summer camp; Camp Kwasind, a Baptist camp; and Camp Newport
Camp Newport
Camp Newport is a Salvation Army camp located on Skeleton Lake in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, about from Huntsville. The camp is over in size and consists of five cabins to house campers....
, operated by The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
.