Stony Lake (Ontario)

Stoney Lake (also called Stony Lake) is a lake in Peterborough County in Central Ontario, Canada.[1][2][3][4] There are three interconnected lakes (Upper Stoney Lake to the northeast, Stony Lake in the centre, and Clear Lake to the southwest) which together are known as Stony or Stoney Lake. Stoney Lake forms the eastern end of the Kawartha lakes region. It is primarily a summer cottage area but there are many permanent residences on the lakes.

Stony Lake
Crowes Landing on Stony Lake
Stony Lake
LocationPeterborough County, Ontario
GroupKawartha lakes
Coordinates44°33′23″N 78°06′49″W[1]
Primary inflowsLovesick Lake
Primary outflowsKatchewanooka Lake, White/Dummer Lake
Basin countriesCanada
Surface area28 km2 (11 sq mi)
Max. depth105 ft (32 m)
Residence timeMostly summer residences
Shore length1Granite on north & Sand/clay on south
Surface elevation234 m (768 ft)
IslandsJuniper Island, Horseshoe Island, Big Island, Doe Island, Rankin's Rock
SettlementsLakefield, Ontario; Burleigh Falls, Ontario; Warsaw, Ontario
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Name

Stoney Lake was known to early European settlers as Salmon Trout Lake, but the modern name is fully appropriate. The lake actually consists of Stony Lake for the western and southern arms, the east arm is Stoney Lake. Salmon trout are no longer evident, but islands and shoals are everywhere. Today, Stoney Lake represents the classic Ontario ‘cottage country’, enjoyed by its many seasonal residents, by an increasing number of year-round residents, by boaters using the Trent-Severn Waterway, sport fishermen and many others.

Geography

Stoney Lake is located in Peterborough County nearly two hours northeast of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The lake, some 20 miles (32 km) long from Young's Point, Ontario to the lake's eastern shores, about 234 metres (768 ft) above sea level, with a combined surface area of approximately 28 square kilometres (11 sq mi), and encompasses over 1,000 islands. Sportfish caught in the lake include smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye (Pickerel) and muskellunge (Musky). Geologically, the Kawartha lakes are on the boundary between two important land forms.

One of its islands, Fairy Lake Island, encloses another small body of water: Fairy Lake. Fairy Lake is surrounded by private property.

Geology

Stony Lake, Ontario

Like most lakes in Ontario, Stony Lake was created during and after the last ice age. The lake straddles the border between the Canadian Shield and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands land forms. The lake is influenced both by the rugged granite of the Canadian Shield to the north, and by the more gentle, heavily forested Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands to the south.

History

The region has been inhabited for thousands of years. Early First Nations settlement is evidenced by a remarkable collection of prehistoric rock carvings to be seen at the east end of Stony Lake in Petroglyphs Provincial Park. On-going historic research argues that Samuel De Champlain traveled through the area's lakes, rivers and overland portages in the 17th century. The First Nations were joined in the 19th century by European settlers intent on logging and farming. In the mid-19th century logging became a large industry in the Kawarthas and Stoney Lake was used as part of the highway for moving logs to the sawmills downriver. The Trent-Severn Canal system was built early in the 20th century, and became the dominant commercial waterway in the region.

The American Canoe Association met on Juniper Island in 1883, and development evolved naturally from travellers fishing or hunting from simple lodges. Lengthier camping expeditions on the many islands became common. In the late 19th century and early 20th century many people from Ontario and the bordering U.S. states bought Crown land and built cottages. These were generally simple, one-story frame structures with few amenities. As well, those early settlers, at Young's Point, Kawartha Park, McCracken's Landing, Mount Julian and others around the lake, found new sources of income by helping cottagers in many ways: ice cutting, building, guiding, boat repairs and domestic chores. Stoney Lake today is principally used for recreational purposes. Some of the large islands include Juniper and Horseshoe island.

In pop culture

The film Cheaper by the Dozen 2 was shot at Mark Kennedy's property on the lake at Burleigh Falls. A water skiing scene in the movie contains several scenes of the Lake. The 2003 remake of the film The In-laws was shot on Stoney Lake. The water ski team from Cypress Gardens, Florida has stayed at the Irwin Inn and practiced on the lake in front of the inn. Canadian rock band Rush, started work on the album Moving Pictures began in August 1980 at Stoney Lake, Ontario. Country singer Ronnie Hawkins also owned an estate on the lake until he sold it in late 2017 for $3.98 million.

See also

References

  1. "Stoney Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  2. "CLAIMaps IV". Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  3. Map 6 (PDF) (Map). 1 : 700,000. Official road map of Ontario. Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  4. Restructured municipalities - Ontario map #5 (Map). Restructuring Maps of Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 2006. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
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