What is the Oak Ridges Moraine and why is it important?
The Oak Ridges Moraine is a kame moraine that was formed during the Wisconsin glacial period (~12,000 years ago) in North America. The Moraine is therefore a significant geological region for its agricultural production and for the information it provides on Ontario’s glacial history.
What happened to the Oak Ridges Moraine?
A key natural heritage system due to its hydrological significance, the Oak Ridges Moraine was formed over 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating glaciers, the Oak Ridges Moraine currently forms the watershed divide between Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe, and is the headwaters to more than 30 rivers.
How was the Oak Ridges Moraine created?
The Moraine was formed as a result of actions by massive sheets of ice that covered much of North America in the last million years. During advances and retreats of the glaciers, materials were scraped and deposited from the land creating a “new” landscape. The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of these new landscapes.
Is Richmond Hill on the Oak Ridges Moraine?
The northern half of Richmond Hill is located on a natural feature called the Oak Ridges Moraine. It stretches more than 160 km from the Niagara Escarpment in the west to the Trent River in the east.
How is the Oak Ridges Moraine valuable?
The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of Ontario’s most significant landforms. The Moraine has a unique concentration of environmental, geological and hydrological features that make its ecosystem vital to south-central Ontario, including: clean and abundant water resources. healthy and diverse plant and animal habitat.
In what ways have humans used the Oak Ridges Moraine?
One of the Moraine’s most important functions is as a water recharge/discharge area – sustaining the health of the many watersheds, which originate in the Moraine and directly providing drinking water to over 250,000 people.
How many species live in the Oak Ridges Moraine?
There are: 1,171 plant species. 125 species of moss. 166 breeding bird species (and more through migratory seasons) 30 species of reptiles and amphibians.
How does the Oak Ridges Moraine purify water?
Scoured off the rocky earth’s crust by giant glaciers, the irregular shaped mounds of sand and gravel that compose most of the Oak Ridges Moraine absorbs water quickly. The clean water that bubbles up from this aquifer feeds 65 river systems.
What is glacial till made of?
Till is sometimes called boulder clay because it is composed of clay, boulders of intermediate sizes, or a mixture of these. The pebbles and boulders may be faceted and striated from grinding while lodged in the glacier.
What type of Moraine is the ORM?
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) is an irregularly shaped geologic feature, formed from glacial sand and gravel deposition. It stretches from the Trent River in the east to the Niagara Escarpment in the west and reaches up to 150 metres in depth.
Why is it important to protect the ORM?
ORM protections reduce contaminants entering critical groundwater sources, maintain forests that control flooding, as well as erosion, and also preserve agricultural lands providing local foods.
Where is the Oak Ridges Moraine in Ontario?
The Oak Ridges Moraine. 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.
How long is the Oak Ridge Ridges Moraine walk?
Oak Ridges Moraine Walk is a 5.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada that features a great forest setting and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and mountain biking. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
What is the Oak Ridges Moraine conservation plan?
The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan was established in 2002. It provides direction on land use and resource management for the land and water located within the moraine.
Who discovered the moraine of Oak Ridge?
In 1829, John Bigsby conducted the first investigation of the moraine. He noted the elevation, and styled the area Oak Ridge, identifying the portion of moraine north of Toronto. The moraine’s extent was not established until 1863 when William Logan conducted the Geological Survey of Canada .