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Rice Lake (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Rice Lake is a lake
located in south-eastern Ontario
, in Northumberland County
, south of Peterborough
and the Kawartha lakes (Ontario) and north of Cobourg. The lake is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway
, which flows into the lake by the Otonabee
and out via the Trent
. The lake is 32 km long and 5 km wide. The Natives called it Pemadashdakota or "lake of the burning plains".
A drumlin
field is located northwest of the lake, and the lake's islands are partially submerged drumlins. Rice Lake nearly bisects the Oak Ridges Moraine
, with three wedges to the west (Albion, Uxbridge and Pontypool), and one wedge to the east (Rice Lake) which has terminus at the Trent River
. A narrow corridor to the south of Rice Lake connects these wedges.
The lake is fairly shallow and was named for the wild rice
which grew in it and was harvested by native people of the area. Most of the extensive stands of wild rice originally found in the lake were wiped out when water levels were raised in the lake during the construction of the waterway.
The village of Bewdley
sits on the West end of the lake and the town of Hastings
sits on the East. Prehistoric burial mounds are found at Serpent Mounds Park
on the north shore of the lake. Other places of interest on the lake include the Native Reserve
s of Alderville
and Hiawatha
. Other communities include Roseneath, Bailieboro, Gores Landing
and Harwood
.
The Cobourg and Peterborough Railway was completed in 1854 and crossed Rice Lake from Harwood to Hiawatha. However, the thick layers of ice that cover the lake in the winter damaged the bridge beyond repair and it was declared unsafe and closed within six years. Sections of the railway bed are still clearly visible on the lake. In the late 19th century, steamboat
s provided passenger service on the lake.
Rice Lake is an attractive tourist area but is most famous for its fish. Annual fishing contests are held at Rice Lake, as well as personal fishing. Rice Lake is said to be the lake with most fish in Ontario. Panfish, Walleye, Muskie and Bass are found in Rice Lake's waters.
, Black Island, Foley Island (Upper and Lower), Grasshopper Island, Grape Island (East and West), Harmony Island, Harris Island, Hickory Island, Long Island, Margaret Island, Paudaush Isand, Rack Island, Sheep Island, Spook Island, Sugar Island (East and West), Tic Island, and White's Island
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
located in south-eastern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, in Northumberland County
Northumberland County
Northumberland County is the name of several counties in Northern America:* in the United States** Northumberland County, Pennsylvania** Northumberland County, Virginia* in Canada** Northumberland County, New Brunswick** Northumberland County, Ontario...
, south of Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
and the Kawartha lakes (Ontario) and north of Cobourg. The lake is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway
Trent-Severn Waterway
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a Canadian canal system formerly used for industrial and transportation purposes and now for recreational and tourism purposes, connecting Lake Ontario at Trenton to the Georgian Bay portion of Lake Huron at Port Severn...
, which flows into the lake by the Otonabee
Otonabee River
The Otonabee River is a river that runs from Katchewanooka Lake near Lakefield, into the east side of Peterborough, Ontario , through Little Lake and down 30 km into the northwestern side of Rice Lake...
and out via the Trent
Trent River (Ontario)
The Trent River is a river in southeastern Ontario which flows from Rice Lake to empty into the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario. This river is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway which leads to Georgian Bay. The river is 90 km long...
. The lake is 32 km long and 5 km wide. The Natives called it Pemadashdakota or "lake of the burning plains".
A drumlin
Drumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
field is located northwest of the lake, and the lake's islands are partially submerged drumlins. Rice Lake nearly bisects the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
, with three wedges to the west (Albion, Uxbridge and Pontypool), and one wedge to the east (Rice Lake) which has terminus at the Trent River
Trent River (Ontario)
The Trent River is a river in southeastern Ontario which flows from Rice Lake to empty into the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario. This river is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway which leads to Georgian Bay. The river is 90 km long...
. A narrow corridor to the south of Rice Lake connects these wedges.
The lake is fairly shallow and was named for the wild rice
Wild rice
Wild rice is four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain which can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China...
which grew in it and was harvested by native people of the area. Most of the extensive stands of wild rice originally found in the lake were wiped out when water levels were raised in the lake during the construction of the waterway.
The village of Bewdley
Bewdley, Ontario
Bewdley is a community in the Township of Hamilton, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada. The community was founded by William Bancks, whose ancestral home was Bewdley in England. It is located on the western end of Rice Lake about north of Port Hope....
sits on the West end of the lake and the town of Hastings
Hastings, Ontario
Hastings is an amalgamated village within the municipality of Trent Hills, Northumberland County, in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is on the Trent River, in what is considered to be Ontario's "cottage country"....
sits on the East. Prehistoric burial mounds are found at Serpent Mounds Park
Serpent Mounds Park
Serpent Mounds Park is a private campground, day-use park, and a National Historic Site of Canada located in Keene, Ontario. Serpent Mounds is currently owned and operated by the Hiawatha First Nation, a historic Mississaugas people.- History :...
on the north shore of the lake. Other places of interest on the lake include the Native Reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
s of Alderville
Alderville First Nation
Alderville First Nation is a band of Mississaugas, a sub-nation of the Ojibwas. The Alderville and Sugar Island 37A reserves belong to that First Nation.-First Nation:...
and Hiawatha
Hiawatha First nation
The Hiawatha First Nation Indian Reserve is located on the north shore of Rice Lake east of the Otonabee River in Ontario, Canada.It is found in Otonabee Township approximately 30 kilometers south of Peterborough...
. Other communities include Roseneath, Bailieboro, Gores Landing
Gores Landing, Ontario
Gore's Landing is a community in Ontario.-Geography:The town of Cobourg is 15 minutes to the south and the small city of Peterborough is a half-hour drive north...
and Harwood
Harwood, Ontario
Harwood is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the township of Hamilton in Northumberland County. It is named for Montreal merchant Robert Unwin Harwood....
.
The Cobourg and Peterborough Railway was completed in 1854 and crossed Rice Lake from Harwood to Hiawatha. However, the thick layers of ice that cover the lake in the winter damaged the bridge beyond repair and it was declared unsafe and closed within six years. Sections of the railway bed are still clearly visible on the lake. In the late 19th century, steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s provided passenger service on the lake.
Rice Lake is an attractive tourist area but is most famous for its fish. Annual fishing contests are held at Rice Lake, as well as personal fishing. Rice Lake is said to be the lake with most fish in Ontario. Panfish, Walleye, Muskie and Bass are found in Rice Lake's waters.
Islands on Rice Lake
Cow IslandCow Island (Ontario)
Cow Island is an island on Rice Lake in Ontario, Canada, just west of the mouth of the Otonabee River.There are approximately 50 privately owned lots of land on the island...
, Black Island, Foley Island (Upper and Lower), Grasshopper Island, Grape Island (East and West), Harmony Island, Harris Island, Hickory Island, Long Island, Margaret Island, Paudaush Isand, Rack Island, Sheep Island, Spook Island, Sugar Island (East and West), Tic Island, and White's Island
External links
- http://www.northumberlandtourism.com/en/wildernessoutdoors/fishing_Rice_Lake.asp Fishing Rice Lake Ontario - Walleye, Bass, Crappie, Perch, Panfish and Muskie
- Fishing on Rice Lake Walleye, Bass, Crappie, Perch, Panfish and Muskie