{{Short description|Lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2009}}
{{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Bernard | image = Lake Bernard ON.JPG | caption = | pushpin_map = Canada Southern Ontario | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Strong, Ontario, Canada | coords = {{coord|format=dms|region:CA-ON_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = | inflow = | outflow = Stirling Creek | catchment = | basin_countries = Canada | length = {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|20.9|km2|abbr=on}} | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | islands = 0 | cities = Sundridge, Ontario }}
'''Lake Bernard''' is a freshwater lake {{convert|276|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Toronto and {{convert|23|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Algonquin Park in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, between Huntsville and North Bay. Its area is approximately {{convert|21|km2|abbr=on}} and it measures roughly {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} across and {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} long. The village of Sundridge lies on the northern shore of this clean, clear lake, which is otherwise surrounded by the municipal township of Strong.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://gbcamp.com/|title=Welcome to Glen Bernard Camp: Overnight Summer Camp for Girls |website=Glen Bernard Camp |access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> The lake has been named after a family who hunted and trapped for many years in the area.
Lake Bernard is the largest freshwater lake in the world without an island.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrecordacademy.com/wra/world_records_encyclopedia_70805.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004202343/http://www.worldrecordacademy.com/wra/world_records_encyclopedia_70805.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 2012|title=World Records Encyclopedia|website=www.worldrecordacademy.com |access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> It is a deep lake, charted to depths of {{convert|45.7|m}}<ref>[http://ontariosportsmanblog.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403103339/http://www.ontariosportsmanblog.com/|date=2014-04-03}}</ref>
Historically, the lake was primarily used for logging, and one may still see many logs which have become waterlogged and sunk to the bottom.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundridge.ca/en/index.aspx|title=Village of Sundridge |date=February 24, 2021|website=www.sundridge.ca |access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> Lake Bernard used to be called Stoney Lake, due to the large volume of rock found around the southern shores of the lake.<ref name="auto"/> Much of the lake has sandy beaches and many areas feature a sandy bottom and shallow waters.<ref name="auto"/>
Summer events on Lake Bernard include the annual Canada Day festivities in July and the Sunflower Festival and RBC Sundridge Triathlon each August.
Fish species in the lake include lake trout, rainbow trout, speckled trout, whitefish, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. Because Lake Bernard is large and deep, fishing for bass is limited to some areas, but lake trout and whitefish are plentiful in this stocked lake.<ref name="auto2">[http://www.sunflower-festival.ca Sundridge Sunflower Festival website]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Lake Bernard's attractions include High Park Lookout and hiking trails.<ref name="auto"/> Lake Bernard is also part of the Discovery Routes Trails system for cycling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discoveryroutes.ca/trails-by-activity/bike/|title=Bicycle Routes |publisher=Discovery Routes Trails Organization|website=discoveryroutes.ca |access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> Snowmobiling on and around the lake and ice fishing are popular during the winter and huts can be seen on the lake until April. Dog-sledding can be arranged at local resorts.<ref name="auto2"/> Lake Bernard is also home to Glen Bernard Camp, a residential girls' camp founded in 1922 by Mary S. Edgar.<ref name="auto1"/>
The shores of the lake have been developed with non-permanent residences and cottages as well as permanent residents, many of whom are descendants of the original settlers to the area in the latter half of the 1800s. There is an active property owners' association on the lake, focusing on protecting lake health and building community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lakebernard.ca/|title=Lake Bernard Property Owners' Association: Upcoming Events |website=Lake Bernard Property Owners' Association |access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> Several resorts have also made Lake Bernard their home, including Shady Nook Cottages,<ref>http://www.shadynookcottages.ca {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002142120/http://www.shadynookcottages.ca/ |date=2010-10-02 }}</ref> the Northridge Inn & Resort,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://northridgeinn.com/|title=Northridge Inn – Muskoka Resorts – Ontario Resorts – Northridge Inn}}</ref> Lake Bernard Park campground and Caswell Resort Hotel.
==See also== *List of lakes in Ontario
==References== {{reflist}}
Bernard