place

Oak Ridges Moraine

Aquifers in CanadaLandforms of the Regional Municipality of DurhamLandforms of the Regional Municipality of PeelLandforms of the Regional Municipality of YorkMoraines of Ontario
Natural history of OntarioOak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine map
Oak Ridges Moraine map

The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of 1,900 square kilometres (730 sq mi) between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough. One of the most significant landforms in southern Ontario, the moraine gets its name from the rolling hills and river valleys extending 160 km (99 mi) east from the Niagara Escarpment to Rice Lake, formed 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating glaciers (see geological origins, below) during the last glaciation period. Below the approximately 200 metre thick glacial derived sediments of the moraine lies thick bedrock successions of Precambrian rocks and up to 200 metres of Ordovician aged rock (see geology below), capped by a regional unconformity of erosion and non-deposition to the Quaternary period. Rivers and lakes scatter the landscape and are important for creating habitat for the rich diversity of species of animals, trees and shrubbery (see ecology). These are also the supply of fresh water to aquifers in the moraine through complex subterranean connections (see hydrology). Construction development nearby, and with expansion of communities around the moraine in need of potable water, it is a contested site in Ontario, since it stands in the path of major urban development (see political action). Conservation of the moraine is thus an important step for keeping aquifers in a safe drinkable condition while also protecting the natural ecosystems surrounding and within the moraine (see conservation). This region has been subject to multiple decades of scientific research to study the origins of formation, and how early communities used the land. A larger focus currently is how to source potable water without removing the aquifer entirely (see research section).

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Oak Ridges Moraine (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Trail, Scugog

Geographical coordinates (GPS) Address Nearby Places
placeShow on map

Wikipedia: Oak Ridges MoraineContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 44.05 ° E -78.866666666667 °
placeShow on map

Address

Oak Ridges Trail

Oak Ridges Trail
Scugog
Ontario, Canada
mapOpen on Google Maps

Oak Ridges Moraine map
Oak Ridges Moraine map
Share experience

Nearby Places

Durham (federal electoral district)
Durham (federal electoral district)

Durham (formerly known as Clarington—Scugog—Uxbridge) is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1904 to 1968 and since 1988. Its first iteration was created in 1903 from Durham East and Durham West ridings. It consisted of the county of Durham. The electoral district was abolished in 1966 when it was merged into the Northumberland—Durham riding. It was recreated in 1987 from parts of the Durham—Northumberland and Ontario ridings. The second incarnation of the riding initially consisted of the Town of Newcastle, the townships of Scugog and Uxbridge, Scugog Indian Reserve No. 34, the part of the City of Oshawa lying north of Rossland Road, the allowance for road in front of lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, Concession 3 and part of the Town of Whitby lying north of Taunton Road. In 1996, it was redefined to consist of the Township of Scugog, Scugog Indian Reserve No. 34, the Town of Clarington and part of the City of Oshawa lying north of a line drawn from west to east along Taunton Road, south along Ritson Road North, east along Rossland Road East, south along Harmony Road North and east along King Street East. The electoral district was abolished in 2003 when it was redistributed between Clarington—Scugog—Uxbridge, Oshawa and Whitby—Oshawa ridings. Clarington—Scugog—Uxbridge was defined to consist of the townships of Uxbridge and Scugog, the Municipality of Clarington and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island reserve. In 2004, Clarington—Scugog—Uxbridge was renamed to its current name of Durham. Following the Canadian federal electoral redistribution of 2012, the riding lost territory to Pickering—Uxbridge and Northumberland—Peterborough South and gained territory from Oshawa and Whitby—Oshawa. On August 24, 2020, then-Durham MP Erin O'Toole won the Conservative Party leadership election and was named Leader of the Official Opposition.