"Its is the constant change which affords such
pleasure to the eye on the lakes of Muskoka; and though the component
parts of the landscape shall be of the same - water, and rock,
and tree - yet the ever-changing play of light and from constantly
opens out new combinations in color and beauty of which the sight
never wearies nor the interest grows dull."
-Barlow Cumberland , The Northern Lakes of
Canada , 1886
Just a two-hour drive north of Toronto stands 2500 square miles
of white pine forests, stunning granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls
and 1600 freshwater lakes. This spectacular one and a half billion-year-old
region, part of the rocky and rugged Canadian Shield , is known
as Muskoka.
Muskoka, flanked by Algonquin Park on the north and Georgian
Bay on the west is made up of picturesque villages and towns,
farming communities and lakeside vacation resorts. Over the last
200 years, this striking environment has become known as the
ultimate playground for the wealthy.
From the settler's point of view, these natural features were
often more a curse than a blessing. As the pioneers struggled
to coax crops from the rugged Canadian Shield , it seemed at
times that Muskoka was destined to fail as a settlement - even
with the province's Free Grants and Homestead Act, offering 100
acres of land to anyone who would build a house and clear 15
acres within five years' time. But fate and the spirit of enterprise
intervened. Muskoka's so-called liabilities became her greatest
assets. Today, Muskoka has become an exclusive real estate scene
and a sought after vacation destination for over 2.1 million
annual visitors.
The most populous part of Muskoka is the Muskoka Lakes Township
, home to Lake Rosseau , Lake Muskoka and Lake Joseph . These
three lakes, some of the deepest in the region, were the first
lakes explored and settled by wealthy British sportsmen and tourists
in the late 1800s.
Today, families of local pioneers, early retirees, weekend cottagers
and resort vacationers inhabit Muskoka. It has become a Canadian
Tradition to flock north to enjoy the clean air, civilized wilderness
and an active lifestyle. Visitors come again and again to experience
it's year round natural beauty, while at the same time enjoying
it's diversified culture and numerous recreational activities.
