Skeleton Lake (Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skeleton Lake |
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 Skeleton Lake
Location in Ontario
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| Location | Huntsville & Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°15′02″N 79°27′01″W / 45.25056°N 79.45028°W |
| Type | Lake |
| Max. length | 8.3 km (5.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 4.8 km (3.0 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 280 m (920 ft) |
Skeleton Lake is a beautiful lake located in Ontario, Canada. It's found near the towns of Huntsville and Muskoka Lakes. This lake is about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) west of Huntsville's main area. For many years, until 1991, the government's Ministry of Natural Resources had a fish hatchery here.
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Exploring Skeleton Lake's Geography
Skeleton Lake is quite large, stretching about 8.3 kilometers (5.2 miles) long and 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) wide. It sits at an elevation of 280 meters (919 feet) above sea level. The lake is part of the Lake Huron drainage basin, meaning its water eventually flows into Lake Huron.
The only place water flows out of Skeleton Lake is through the Skeleton River. This river starts at the west side of the lake and is controlled by the Skeleton Lake Dam. The river then flows through a small community called Bent River before reaching Skeleton Bay on Lake Rosseau.
There are two islands in the lake that people can visit. One is called The Hog's Back. It's a small rocky island that used to have a lot of religious drawings on it. Now, it's mostly bare rock with a fire pit. The other island is Anderson's Island. It's covered in silver birch trees and has a popular spot for cliff-jumping on its southeast side. This island also has some religious writings carved into trees and painted on rocks. Other public spots around the lake include a government dock in Wilson's Bay.
How Skeleton Lake Was Formed
Scientists believe Skeleton Lake was created by a meteorite impact about 800 million years ago. It's thought that an asteroid hit the Earth, forming a crater much bigger than the lake we see today. Over millions of years, especially during periods when large ice sheets covered the land (called glaciation), the original crater was worn away. What's left is the lake, which is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) across and 100 meters (328 feet) deep in its center.
Skeleton Lake is known as a suspected impact crater. It's hard to find definite proof of the impact because the ice ages removed much of the evidence. Unless more signs of a shock event are found, its origin can't be 100% confirmed. The lake is fed by underground springs, which makes its water incredibly clear. People who live near the lake say that on calm days, you can see up to 30 meters (98 feet) deep into the water without any special equipment!
The Story Behind the Name
Skeleton Lake got its unique name from a sad story. When surveyors were mapping the north shore, they found two skeletons on the rocks. They asked a local Indigenous chief about them. The chief explained that his people had camped by the lake one winter. When food became very scarce, the tribe decided to move. However, one mother had a 14-year-old son who was too weak to travel. She refused to leave him. They both died of starvation, and the lake was named in their memory. There's also a legend that an underground current flows south from the lake, but no one has tried to find where it leads.
Fun Things to Do at Skeleton Lake
Skeleton Lake has one of the largest open areas of water among all the Muskoka Lakes. This makes it a great spot for activities like sailing and windsurfing. However, be aware that the water can sometimes get a bit rough.
Fishing in Skeleton Lake can be challenging, but you can catch bass and trout. In the spring, lake trout will bite at small fish in the cold, shallow water. Later in the summer, trout prefer to stay in colder water, usually 15 to 21 meters (50–70 feet) deep. To catch them at this depth, you might need special fishing gear called down-riggers. Bass, on the other hand, can be caught in shallower areas.
Many people own cottages around Skeleton Lake. There's even a cottagers' association for them to connect and work together.
Summer Camps on the Lake
Skeleton Lake is home to several summer camps, many of which are based on religion. These include:
- Camp Ramah in Canada, a Jewish summer camp.
- Camp Kwasind, a Baptist camp.
- Camp Newport, run by The Salvation Army.
