The Mnjikaning Fish Weirs are located near
Orillia between Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe.
The "Mnjikaning" or "Fish Fence" is one of
the oldest Human developments in North America with estimates of
it's age making the fence about 5000 years old. It was
built as a sort of fish coral in order to trap the fish so that
the ancient peoples could gather them. Even Samual de
Champlain marveled at the construction of these weirs in 1615 as
he passed through the area en route to a battle.
The Cache site was designated a National Historic Site in 1982
and is now maintained by Parks Canada. There is a
descriptive plaque here along with a bronze historic
marker. Much of the actual fish fence is located a couple
of hundred yards to the North and of course the remains are now
under water.
For more information on this fascinating site
please visit: http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/pca-acl/sec1/sec1d_e.asp
.