Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (officially called Kawartha Highlands Signature Site) is a 375 km² area of preserved wilderness
and recreational areas in south-central Ontario
, Canada
. It is located to the north and east of the main belt of the Kawartha lakes
primarily in the township of North Kawartha
. It is the largest single area of preserved land in the southern part of the province (excluding Algonquin Park, parts of which are in northern and southern Ontario).
The park was expanded from its original size of 18.6 square kilometres (7.2 sq mi) to its current size in June 2003. It was previously a mostly-wilderness tract enclosing Bottle Lake and Sucker Lake, and accessible primarily by canoe
, many by portage routes only. It now encloses many more small lakes as well as all of Anstruther Lake
, and has many cottages and access roads. As of 2008, the park is not officially operational; trails, campsites and entry infrastructure have not been completed, and official provincial maps do not yet indicate the expanded area.
Municipally, the park is completely within Peterborough County
; about two-thirds of its area is in the township of North Kawartha
, and the remaining western portion is in the township of Galway-Cavendish-Harvey.
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
and recreational areas in south-central 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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located to the north and east of the main belt of the Kawartha lakes
Kawartha lakes
The Kawartha lakes are a band of lakes in south-central Ontario, Canada that form the upper watershed of the Trent River. The lakes all lie upon the boundary between the Paleozoic limestone regions of the Golden Horseshoe, and the Precambrian granite Canadian Shield of northern and central...
primarily in the township of North Kawartha
North Kawartha, Ontario
North Kawartha is a township in northern Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada.North Kawartha was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the Townships of Burleigh and Anstruther and the Township of Chandos...
. It is the largest single area of preserved land in the southern part of the province (excluding Algonquin Park, parts of which are in northern and southern Ontario).
The park was expanded from its original size of 18.6 square kilometres (7.2 sq mi) to its current size in June 2003. It was previously a mostly-wilderness tract enclosing Bottle Lake and Sucker Lake, and accessible primarily by canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
, many by portage routes only. It now encloses many more small lakes as well as all of Anstruther Lake
Anstruther Lake
Anstruther Lake is a lake in the township of North Kawartha, Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada, between the community of Apsley on Ontario Highway 28 to the east and the community of Catchacoma on Ontario Highway 507 to the west. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park encompasses the lake, and the...
, and has many cottages and access roads. As of 2008, the park is not officially operational; trails, campsites and entry infrastructure have not been completed, and official provincial maps do not yet indicate the expanded area.
Municipally, the park is completely within Peterborough County
Peterborough County, Ontario
Peterborough County is located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is projected to reach a population of 159,840 by 2031, according to the Ontario Ministry of Finance's Ontario Population Projections Update...
; about two-thirds of its area is in the township of North Kawartha
North Kawartha, Ontario
North Kawartha is a township in northern Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada.North Kawartha was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the Townships of Burleigh and Anstruther and the Township of Chandos...
, and the remaining western portion is in the township of Galway-Cavendish-Harvey.