Balsam Lake (Ontario)
Lake in southern Ontario, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balsam Lake is a lake in the City of Kawartha Lakes in Central Ontario, Canada.[1][2][3][4] It is in the Great Lakes Basin, is one of the lakes of the Kawartha Lakes, and is at the summit of the Trent–Severn Waterway.
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| Balsam Lake | |
|---|---|
| |
  Balsam Lake Location in Southern Ontario | |
| Location | Kawartha Lakes, Ontario |
| Group | Kawartha Lakes |
| Coordinates | 44°34′50″N 78°50′30″W[1] |
| Primary inflows | Gull River, Staples River, Corben Creek |
| Primary outflows | Rosedale River, Trent Canal |
| Catchment area | 115 km2 (44 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
| Surface area | 48 km2 (19 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 15.24 m (50.0 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 256.3 metres (841 ft) |
| Islands | Grand Island, Hogg Island, Ball Island, Delamere Island, Ant Island, Cherry Island |
| Settlements | Coboconk |
Geography
Balsam Lake is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long and averages 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) wide, though its actual width varies due to the many large bays that carve its shoreline; the total area is 48 square kilometres (19 sq mi) and the watershed area is 115 square kilometres (44 sq mi).[5] The primary inflows are the Gull River at the north and the Staples River at the southwest.[1][2]
The lake is the highest point of the Trent–Severn Waterway at 256.3 metres (841 ft); from here, the waterway descends to Georgian Bay in the northwest, and to Lake Ontario in the southeast.[6] It is the highest point to which a vessel can be navigated from sea level in the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence River drainage basin.
The main outflow, at the east, is the Rosedale River and Trent Canal leading to Cameron Lake.[1][2]
The village of Coboconk is located on the north side of the lake.
Natural history
Balsam Lake Provincial Park[7] and Indian Point Provincial Park[8] are located on the north shore of the lake.[2]
The lake offers excellent fishing for bass, walleye, and muskie. Mackenzie Bay in West Bay is a popular spot for boats to congregate on a warm summer day.[9]
Map images
Map of Balsam Lake
The Kawartha Lakes and the Trent Severn Waterway; Balsam Lake in the upper left quadrant
