Balsam Lake (Ontario)

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.

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 km^2 (44 sq mi)
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	16 km (9.9 mi)
Max. width	3 km (1.9 mi)
Surface area	48 km^2 (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

Location of the lake in the City of Kawartha Lakes

Location of the lake with respect to the other Kawartha lakes; Balsam Lake marked 'C'

See also

• List of lakes in Ontario

References

1. "Balsam Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
2. "CLAIMaps IV". Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
3. Map 5 (PDF) (Map). 1 : 700,000. Official road map of Ontario. Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
4. Restructured municipalities - Ontario map #5 (Map). Restructuring Maps of Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 2006. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
5. "Balsam Lake Subwatershed". Kawartha Conservation. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
6. Angus, James T. (1999). A Respectable Ditch: A History of the Trent-Severn Waterway, 1833–1920. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7735-1821-6. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
7. "Balsam Lake". Ontario Parks. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
8. "Indian Point". Ontario Parks. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
9. "Fishing Facts for Balsam Lake". Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2012-10-19.