CHARLESTON LAKE

Thaddeus Leavitt in the " History of Leeds and Grenville,1879 " writes " Leeds County boasts many inland lakes, but Charleston is Pre-eminently Queen of All". Even today, Charleston Lake,

is still often referred to as the " Hidden Jewel" of Eastern Ontario. Charleston Lake sits atop the Frontenac Arch, the ridge of ancient granite connecting the Canadian Shield and the Adirondack Mountains. It is the largest lake of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve which is the twelfth UNESCO designation in Canada .

Charleston Lake has a very rich history as outlined by Edna B. Chant in " Beautiful Charleston", 1975, which is available from the Charleston lake Association. Before the settlers came, Charleston lake was used for hunting and fishing by the natives during the summer. Many native artifacts have been found in various parts of the lake and along the shoreline but no permanent sites have been located. In 1816, Rev. William Smart, wrote about the beautiful scenery of Charleston Lake and its great fishing. As a result, Charleston Lake became a fishing resort especially for the Americans. The first land was granted by the crown in 1811, which eventual became the village of Charleston.

Charleston Lake is located in the Township of Athens and Leeds and the 1000 Islands. It covers an area of just over 2500 hectares or 26.2 sq. km. with a maximum depth of 91.1 m. and has a watershed surface area of nearly 290 sq. km. and has over 80 islands. The physical character of Charleston Lake is very unique for it is cradled in two distinct bedrock types: granite and sandstone. For the most part, the southwest end of the watershed is on igneous bedrock and the northeast portion is on sedimentary rock. The watershed has a great biodiversity of plants and animals such as the three-needle Pitch Pine which is common to New Jersey and not found anywhere else in Canada.

In 1975 the Charleston Lake Provincial Park was formed at the south end of the lake with an area of just over 900 ha. which includes 46 islands or parts of islands and takes up about 45 % of the shoreline. For more information visit <http://www.ontarioparks.com/>www.OntarioParks.com and go to Charleston Lake Park or visit the web site of the " Friends of Charleston Lake Park" at <http://www.friendsofcharlestonlake.ca/>www.friendsofcharlestonlake.ca Approximately 800 owners have cottages on the lake of which 200 are all year round residents. The Charleston Lake Association/Charleston Lake Environmental Association with its 700 members are very active in all aspects of the life on the lake especially with water quality. The first Lake Association, known as the " Charleston Lake Anglers Association" was formed on August 6th,1890. For more information on the lake and its surroundings, please visit the web site at <http://www.charlestonlakeassociation.ca./>www.charlestonlakeassociation.ca. .