10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!
0856379c571c3bb55a9215e2bf1282f5_XL.jpg

Lake of the Woods, a massive body of water located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, has often been called the sixth Great Lake. 

Read on to find out why! 

1. Lake of the Woods crosses two provinces and one international border.

This beautiful body of water is located in the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota.

2. Lake of the Woods is 310 feet deep.

The lake's deepest point is at Whitefish Bay.

sunsetcountry sunset 2
Sunset Country is known for its sunsets. Find them on Facebook for more photos like this one. (Photo credit: Ontario's Sunset Country)

3. This lake is 85 miles long and 56 miles wide at its widest point. 

It has an area of 1,727 miles.

4. Lake of the Woods has a longer shoreline than Lake Superior!

The shoreline is 25,000 miles, but if you count the shoreline of its many islands, it's 65,000 miles. Speaking of islands, there are 14,522 islands in Lake of the Woods. It would be the longest coastline of any Canadian lake, except that the lake is not entirely within Canada.

5. The lake was an important fur-trading route between the Great Lakes and western Canada.

Its shores were home to many Indigenous Peoples and Nations throughout history. The lake was first visited by a non-local, French-Canadian explorer named Jacques de Noyon in 1688. 

6. You could dream about a different island on Lake of the Woods every night for 39 years.

lakeofthewoods islands boating
Explore one of the 14,522 islands located in Lake of the Woods for a day at the beach, family picnics, swimming and incredible fishing! (Photo credit: Ontario's Sunset Country)

7. The largest city on Lake of the Woods is Kenora.

lakeofthewoods houseboats
Have you ever houseboated? These "floating cabins" have everything you need to make your stay comfortable and memorable. (Photo credit: Ontario's Sunset Country)

8. Lake of the Woods is the sixth-largest freshwater lake located (at least partially) in the United States, after the five Great Lakes.

Lake Superior, which is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, is the third-largest freshwater lake by volume. It holds 10% of the freshwater in all of the world's rivers and lakes!

9. It's a birding paradise.

The lake's islands provide nesting habitat for the piping plover and large numbers of American white pelicans. There are also several hundred nesting pairs of bald eagles in this area.

10. It's a top fishing destination for anglers from all over the world.

Most important of all, Lake of the Woods is home to walleye, northern pike, perch, sauger, crappie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake trout, lake sturgeon, whitefish, suckers, and muskellunge.

lakeofthewoods fishing
(Photo credit: Ontario's Sunset Country)
 

Watch Powerboating on Lake of the Woods:

Learn more about fishing in Ontario at www.gofishinontario.com

About Carol Caputo

I am a staff writer for Algoma Country. My team markets the most beautiful area of Northern Ontario! We represent 28,000 square miles of pure outdoor paradise! Our offerings include urban, nature and outdoor tourism, fishing and hunting as well as fantastic motorcycle touring routes. And yes, I have the best job in the world! For more information on Algoma Country visit our website at www.algomacountry.com

Recommended Articles

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

The Ontario Fall Crappie Hunt

Ontario's 400,000 lakes are home to a variety of fish species.

Awesome Algonquin

World Class Brook Trout Fishing in Algonquin Park.

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

5 Reasons To Go Fishing In The Fall

Tips for catching Ontario trophies.

Talon Lake Lunge

This 3500-acre lake holds trophy muskies and should not be ignored!

Top Flies for Northern Pike

Try These Go-to Flies and Tips on Your Next Trip

Musky Mayhem in the Kawarthas

Top notch musky fishing on Buckhorn Lake can be found in the heart of the Kawarthas.

The Best Brook Trout Fishing

Discover world class fishing in Northern Ontario—home of the world record brook trout!

When to Use Bright Lures and Dark Lures

An interesting insight, using bright lures on bright days and dark lures on dark days.

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

Sweet Spot Season

When you have a limited amount of time to be out there fishing, you really want to look for those high percentage sweet spots.

St. Francis Titans

Fishing the Original Muskie Capital of the World

Fly-in Fishing

Why You Need to Book a Fly-in Fishing Trip

Bass Clash on Lake Cecebe

Maijac Cottages and Marine is located on Lake Cecebe in the Almaguin Highlands region.

3 Must Fish Ontario Hotspots for Smallmouth Bass

Everyone has a bucket list for something. Die-hard bass anglers have many.

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass Year Round

A drive-to cottage resort where the smallmouth fishing is second to none.

Fish for Canadian Musky Success

A simple strategy for catching muskies, fish as many islands as possible.

10 Steps for Winterizing Your Boat

Essential Steps for Winterizing and Preparing Your Boat for Storage