Blue Heron Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Heron Lake |
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Blue Heron Bridge spanning over Blue Heron Lake
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 Blue Heron Lake
Location in Ontario
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| Location | Windsor, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 42°19′30″N 82°53′55″W / 42.32500°N 82.89861°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | .35 km (0.22 mi) |
| Max. width | .33 km (0.21 mi) |
| Max. depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 177 m (581 ft) |
Blue Heron Lake is a special "L"-shaped lake found in East Riverside Park in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It's not a natural lake; it was actually built by people in 1997. The main reason it was created was to help clean up water that flows from storm drains.
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Amazing Animals of Blue Heron Lake
Blue Heron Lake is home to many cool animals! You can find lots of different reptiles living around the lake.
Snakes and Turtles
Some of the snakes you might see include garter snakes, fox snakes, and northern water snakes. There are also many kinds of turtles, like painted turtles, snapping turtles, musk turtles, red-eared sliders, yellow-bellied sliders, and northern map turtles.
There's a famous story about a giant snapping turtle nicknamed "Colossal." Local people say it has a shell about 3 feet (1 meter) long! In 2017, two residents managed to get it onto the shore, which was the only time it was ever caught. There was an even bigger turtle, almost 5 feet long, but sadly it passed away in 2004–2005.
Birds and Fish
Many different birds visit the lake area. You might spot gulls, herons, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, geese, and ducks.
The lake is also a popular spot for fishing. It's full of different kinds of fish! Some of the fish found here are sunfish, bluegill, pumpkinseed, perch, bass, koi, pike, minnows, shad, carp, and catfish. It's even been confirmed that a large muskellunge lives in Blue Heron Lake. The deepest part of the lake is about 8 meters (26 feet) deep.
Fun Things to Do at Blue Heron Lake
Blue Heron Lake is a great place for outdoor activities! In July 2006, the lake area was connected to the Ganatchio Trail, which is a popular path.
Year-Round Activities
Many people love to come here for a run or a walk along the trails. When winter arrives and the lake freezes over, it becomes a perfect spot for ice skating or playing hockey.
Summer Fun
During the warmer summer months, you'll often see people out on the water canoeing. There are even courses held to teach you how to canoe safely. Fishing is another favorite pastime for many visitors.
Right across the street, to the southwest of the lake, there's a park where you can relax and play. A beautiful blue bridge crosses the center of the lake, making it easy to get from one side to the other. There's also a hill nearby called East Riverside Hill, which used to be a landfill but is now a green space.
