"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 on and a half billion-year-old region, part of the
rocky and rugged Canadian Shield , is know as Muskoka.
Muskoka, flanked by Algonquin Park on the north and Georgian Bay
on the west is make 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.
