Lake Wilcox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Wilcox |
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Lake Wilcox from Lake Wilcox Park
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 Lake Wilcox
Location in Ontario
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| Location | Richmond Hill, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 43°56′56.69″N 79°26′9.45″W / 43.9490806°N 79.4359583°W |
| Type | Kettle lake |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 137 acres (0.55 km2) |
| Max. depth | 17.4 metres (57 ft) |
Lake Wilcox is a special type of lake called a kettle lake. You can find it in the Oak Ridges area of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It's pretty big, about 1.5 kilometers wide. It covers an area of 55.6 hectares, which is like 137 football fields! This makes it the largest kettle lake on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Lake Wilcox and its nearby Lake St. George are part of a "provincially significant wetland." This means they are very important natural areas.
The lake is named after William Willcocks. He was a merchant who lived in Upper Canada a long time ago. He also became the mayor of Cork, Ireland. William Willcocks bought a lot of land around the lake, about 800 acres. The lake was first called "Lake Willcocks," but over time, people started saying and writing "Lake Wilcox."
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Community Life Around Lake Wilcox
Lake Wilcox is also the name of a local community in Oak Ridges. This community has its own elementary school, called Lake Wilcox Elementary School. There's also the Lake Wilcox Community Centre, where people can gather. You'll find several local parks here too. The most popular ones are Sunset Beach Park and Brickworks Parks.
A Look Back: History of Lake Wilcox
The lake was first shown on a map in 1878. It was called "Lake Wilcocks" back then. In the 1950s, many new houses started to be built around Lake Wilcox. In 1971, the Oak Ridges area, including Lake Wilcox, became part of Richmond Hill.
More houses were built in the mid-1980s. These new developments affected the forests of the Oak Ridges Moraine. These forests are important because they supply water to the greater Toronto area. People protested against cutting down so many trees. Around 2001, a road called Bayview was extended. In 2002, the building of new houses finally stopped.
Geography of Lake Wilcox
Lake Wilcox is part of the Humber River system. Its water flows into the East Humber River. The area that drains water into the lake is about 260 hectares. The deepest part of the lake is 17.4 meters, which is about 57 feet deep.
Important Wetlands Around the Lake
Lake Wilcox, along with Lake St. George, Swan Lake, and Haynes Lake, forms a large wetland area. This whole area is called a "Provincially Significant Wetland." It includes many different types of wetlands, like swamps, marshes, and bogs. These wetlands are very important for the environment.
Ecology: Plants and Animals of Lake Wilcox
Since 1997, the town of Richmond Hill has been working to make the lake healthier. The lake's condition had gotten worse because of pollution and building developments. Old septic systems that used to drain into the lake were connected to modern sewers. Special "lake lungs" were also put in to add more oxygen to the water. Even with these efforts, high levels of phosphorus in the lake are still a problem.
Vegetation: Plants Around the Lake
Many different kinds of trees grow around Lake Wilcox. Some evergreen trees include white spruce, eastern hemlock, and white pine. There are also many leafy trees like red maple, sugar maple, and different kinds of oak trees.
You can also find beautiful wildflowers like purple coneflower, ox-eyed susan, and wild columbine. In the lake itself, you'll see plants like bulrushes, cattails, and water lilies.
Animal Life in and Around the Lake
Lake Wilcox is home to many animals. You might spot muskrats, great horned owls, and painted turtles. The lake is also full of fish, including largemouth bass, yellow perch, and northern pike. Many different types of birds also live here.
How People Use Lake Wilcox
The town of Richmond Hill has three parks along the shores of Lake Wilcox. These are Jesse Vanek Park, Lake Wilcox Park (which used to be called Sunset Beach Park), and North Shore Parkette. Part of the lake, called the Lake Wilcox Fish and Wildlife Refuge, is kept in its natural state. People enjoy using the lake for fun activities like fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, and boating.
