Kempenfelt Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kempenfelt Bay |
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Downtown Barrie curves around the shore of Kempenfelt Bay
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 Kempenfelt Bay
Location in Ontario
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| Coordinates | 44°23′09″N 79°36′52″W / 44.38571°N 79.61449°W |
| Type | Bay |
| Etymology | Richard Kempenfelt |
| Max. length | 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) |
| Max. depth | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Settlements | Barrie |
Kempenfelt Bay is a long bay in Ontario, Canada. It stretches about 14.5 km (9.0 mi) and reaches into the city of Barrie. This bay is connected to the much larger Lake Simcoe.
The bay can be as deep as 30 m (98 ft) in some spots. It is famous for its ice fishing and for stories about a mysterious creature called Kempenfelt Kelly. People say Kempenfelt Kelly is like the Loch Ness Monster, a prehistoric animal living in the water.
Every year, Kempenfelt Bay also hosts Kempenfest. This is a big outdoor festival that celebrates arts and crafts.
History of Kempenfelt Bay
Kempenfelt Bay got its name from John Graves Simcoe. He was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. A Lieutenant-Governor is like a leader or representative for the King or Queen in a Canadian province.
Simcoe named the bay after Rear-Admiral Richard Kempenfelt of the Royal Navy. Richard Kempenfelt was a captain who served in the West Indies in the 1740s. John Simcoe's father, Captain John Simcoe, also served there at the same time.
Ice Fishing Fun
Ice fishing is a very popular activity on Lake Simcoe, and that includes Kempenfelt Bay. The ice fishing season usually starts in January and continues until the middle of March.
Kempenfelt Bay often freezes later in the winter than other parts of Lake Simcoe. This is because it is deeper than some of the shallower areas, like Cook's Bay.
During the busiest time of the season, you might see as many as 4,000 fishing huts on the ice! All these huts must be registered with the Ministry of Natural Resources. This government department helps manage natural resources like fish and forests.
The most common fish caught by ice fishers is the yellow perch. Ice fishing on Lake Simcoe brings in more than $28 million every year for the local economy.
