Lake Couchiching

Summary

Lake Couchiching (/ˈkəɪŋ/ KOO-chə-ching),[1] from the Ojibwe gojijiing meaning "inlet", is a medium-sized lake in Central Ontario, Canada, separated from Lake Simcoe by a narrow channel.

Lake Couchiching
Lake Couchiching at Orillia
Lake Couchiching is located in Southern Ontario
Lake Couchiching
Lake Couchiching
LocationOntario, Canada
Coordinates44°40′N 79°23′W / 44.667°N 79.383°W / 44.667; -79.383
Basin countriesCanada
Max. length16 km (9.9 mi)
Max. width5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area33.75 km2 (13.03 sq mi)
Max. depth12 m (39 ft)
Surface elevation219 m (719 ft)
IslandsChief, Horseshoe, Heron, Thistle, Bird, Nadie, Green, Portage, Ship, Shotgun, and Garnet
SettlementsOrillia

Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching are popular spots for fishing in summer and ice fishing in winter.

Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot paid homage to the lake in the song "Couchiching".

The Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs holds its annual conference on the shores of the lake every August. Camp Couchiching is also located near the lake.

Geography edit

 
Satellite image of the lake

The Trent-Severn Waterway enters Lake Simcoe by the Talbot River and exits this lake by the Severn River which empties into Georgian Bay.

The lake is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long and slightly less than 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) wide. The city of Orillia is located on the narrow channel connecting this lake with Lake Simcoe.

Water quality edit

In a 2012 study, the lake showed a microalgae density of 2.4 × 10^7/cm^2, with a high species diversity. The lake showed low total phosphorus and high organic carbon content, when compared to Lake Simcoe.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, Third Edition (Merriam-Webster, 1997; ISBN 0877795460), p. 285.
  2. ^ Kanavillil, N., Thorn, M., & Kurissery, S (September 2012). "Characterization of natural biofilms in temperate inland waters". Journal of Great Lakes Research. 38 (3). Elsevier B.V.: 429–438. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2012.06.014.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links edit

  •   Media related to Lake Couchiching at Wikimedia Commons