Bruce Peninsula
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The Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada lies between Georgian Bay and the main basin of Lake Huron. It extends roughly north-northwestwards from the rest of southern Ontario, pointing towards Manitoulin Island, with which it forms the widest strait, the Main Channel, joining Georgian Bay to the rest of Lake Huron. The peninsula is part of the ridge known as the Niagara Escarpment.
From an administrative standpoint, the Bruce Peninsula (often referred to locally as just "The Bruce") is part of Bruce County, named for James Bruce or Lord Elgin, Governor General of the Province of Canada. The area is a popular tourist destination, and is located roughly 3 hours northwest of Toronto. Notable towns on the peninsula include Tobermory and Wiarton.
The area offers camping, hiking, and fishing, making it attractive to naturalists. It has two national parks - the Bruce Peninsula National Park and the Fathom Five National Marine Park, more than half a dozen nature reserves, the Niagara Escarpment, the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, and the Bruce Trail runs through the region to its northern terminus in Tobermory.
Some facts about the Bruce Peninsula
- The Bruce Peninsula is part of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve.
- The Bruce Peninsula has the largest remaining area of forest and natural habitat in Southern Ontario.
- The Bruce Peninsula is home to some of the oldest trees in eastern North America.
- The Bruce Peninsula is an important flyway for migrating birds.
- The peninsula contains one of the greatest concentrations of native orchid species in North America.
History
The Bruce Peninsula is a place of diverse natural beauty, from the 60-metre (200-foot) tall cliffs facing Georgian Bay, to the peaceful beaches on the shores of Lake Huron. It is here that the Niagara Escarpment starts its 700-kilometre (435-mile) jaunt from Tobermory to Queenston, on the Niagara Peninsula. The bedrock of the escarpment was formed millions of years ago during the Silurian Period. Through the following ages, ancient oceans eroded away the softer bases of shale, then huge glaciers carved their way through the escarpment leaving massive boulders, gravel and sand, creating a unique atmosphere. Much of the Bruce is now preserved under the United Nations as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve.
Parks
There are 2 National Parks, 8 Ontario Parks and 4 Federation of Ontario Naturalists Parks located within the Bruce Peninsula.
- Bruce Peninsula National Park [1] - In the heart of a World Biosphere Reserve, the 'Bruce' is a place of global significance. The massive, rugged cliffs of the park are inhabited by thousand year old cedar trees, overhanging the crystal clear waters of Georgian Bay. The park is composed of an incredible array of habitats from rare alvars to dense forests and clean lakes. Together these form a greater ecosystem - the largest remaining chunk of natural habitat in southern Ontario.
- Fathom Five National Marine Park [2] - The deep and sparkling waters at the mouth of Georgian Bay are home to Fathom Five - Canada's first National Marine Conservation Area. The park preserves a rich cultural legacy that includes 22 shipwrecks and several historic lightstations. Fathom Five’s freshwater ecosystem contains some of the most pristine waters of the Great Lakes. The rugged islands of the park are a reminder of the impressive lakebed topography found beneath the waves.
Ontario Parks [3] - include:
- Black Creek [4]
- Ira Lake [5]
- Johnstons Harbour [6]
- Little Cove [7]
- Cabot Head [8]
- Smoky Head [9]
- Lion's Head [10]
- Hope Bay Forest [11]
Federation of Ontario Naturalists [12] - Ontario Nature works to protect and restore the species, spaces and landscapes that represent the full diversity of nature in Ontario.
Lighthouses of the Bruce Peninsula
The Bruce Peninsula's shoreline has several lighthouses, necessary to provide guidance to the many ships that would pass by her shores. The Cove Island Lighthouse, located near Tobermory is one of the six famous "Imperial" lighthouses built in the 1850s by John Brown can be found in the North Bruce Peninsula.
Cove Island Lighthouse was built in 1858 to mark the passage through the perilous strait between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The stone lightkeeper's cottage adjacent to the tower was built at the same time. The Lighthouse stands 27 m (90 ft) above the water and is 26 m (85 ft) in height from its base. Cove Island Light is currently illuminated by a 500-watt electric light; the power cable is run underwater from Tobermory. It was originally fuelled by sperm whale oil using an Argand lamp, then by flatwick coal oil lamp, then replaced in the 1900s by vapour oil lamp. You can view the lighthouse from the Chicheemaun, or from a tour boat out of Tobermory.
Built: 1855 – 1859
Construction: Conical, Limestone
Status: Active
Location: Cove Island, Ontario (just north of Tobermory, Ontario)
Latitude: 45º 19' 37" North - Longitude: 81º 44' 07" West
Height: 26 m (85 ft)
Access: by boat, located on the north side of Cove Island, approximately 11 km (7 mi) north-northwest of Tobermory harbour.
Wildlife
There are many varieties of wildlife on the Bruce Peninsula, such as the northern flying squirrel, black bear, chipmunk, fisher, long-eared bats, red squirrel, fox, massasauga rattlesnake, red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, hermit thrush, black-throated blue warbler, scarlet tanager and yellow-spotted salamander.
The Bruce Peninsula is located on a major northern migration route, so many species of birds, such as the bald eagle, have their wintering grounds here. Most species do not like to fly over water; thus, they will follow the land up the Niagara Escarpment to Tobermory, then follow the islands through Manitoulin Island and beyond. Also, most birds travel at night, so it is a perfect opportunity during the day to spot them resting. The Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory has been monitoring migration patterns since 1998.
The highest concentration of nesting birds can be found in the Bruce in May and June each year. About 20 species of warblers breed on "the Bruce" including the Black-throated Green, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and Blackburnian Warblers and the ubiquitous American Redstart. They make their summer homes in the extensive wooded areas along the Peninsula. The annual Huron Fringe Birding Festival in May celebrates the spring migration. Migrating hawks also follow the Niagara Escarpment. Hawks travel during the day, and can be seen up near Cabot Head in the open areas west of Dyers Bay, and up near Tobermory, in April.
Wildflowers & Orchids
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Some of the rarest flowers and ferns in Ontario can be found growing on the Bruce Peninsula:
- Lakeside Daisy (hymenoxys acaulis var. glabra)
This is one Ontario's rarest plants. This showy member of the sun flower or daisy family grows at five sites on the Bruce Peninsula, in a distinctive and unusual habitat, alvar. Lakeside Daisy (or Rubberweed, as it is sometimes called) is a showy, spring blooming, perennial which arises from a short, thick taproot. It has dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers on stalks which reach a maximum height of about 40 cm. In Ontario its habitat is alkaline, seasonally wet in spring and fall and moderately to extremely dry in summer.
The Dwarf Lake Iris only grows in very special sites, one being the northern shores of Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula. This wildflower is appreciated for its beauty, extreme rarity and for its genetic potential.The Dwarf Lake Iris thrives on the shorelines in the cool air that flows off the lake, enjoys moist, sandy or rocky soil with the right amount of sun penetrating to the forest floor. It has deep blue to purple blossoms enhanced by bright-yellow crests. Bloom period is late May and early June.
An evergreen fern of the north, to be looked for on the cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula. The leaf stalk is densely scaly and gradually diminishing in size toward the tip. The roots are short, stout and very scaly. No other fern in the north country has both once-cut fronds and spiny edges. The Northern Holly Fern is found in rock crevices or at the base of boulders, mostly in boreal and subalpine coniferous forests.
Orchids
Globally, there are more than 30,000 orchid species. Canada is home to 77 of these species. Ontario has 61 varieties of orchids, and of these, 44 can be found in the Bruce Peninsula.
A selection of the most interesting orchids on the Bruce Peninsula:
- Common, native orchid, classified ‘secure'
- Blooms May to June
- Prefers drier soil than other Lady's slippers
- Easy to find along roadsides as Johnston Harbour Road
- Remarkable: produces the smallest seeds by any group of flowers!
- Common, native orchid, classified ‘secure'
- Blooms late August and September, or until a heavy frost
- Prefers moist and sandy soil
- Very uncommon orchid, grows only in Ontario, classified as ‘special concern' since 1986
- Blooms late June to early August
- Prefers wettest parts of fens
- To find at the fens at Singing Sands
- Quite common, native orchid, classified sensitive
- Blooms the last 10 days of May to mid. June
- Prefers woodland environment
- To find at Singing Sands
- Very unusual, not native orchid, grows only in Ontario, classified as ‘exotic'
- Blooms June and July
- Prefers wet soil, over dolomite area, cedar woodlands
- Relative usual, not native orchid, classified as exotic
- Blooms late July to August; rarely, into October
- Prefers swamps and stream edges, gravelly roadsides, sheltered sandy beaches, open woodlands
- To find at Singing Sands
Communities
The Bruce Peninsula is composed of the Municipalities of Northern Bruce Peninsula and South Bruce Peninsula.
The main villages in the region are as follows:
- Tobermory - Located at the top of the Bruce Peninsula Tobermory [13] is home to the ferry MS Chi-Cheemaun and the 2 National Parks. This port village has galleries, tourist shops and a lighthouse. It is 300 kilometres (190 mi) northwest of Toronto.
- Lion's Head - Located in the centre of the Bruce Peninsula on Georgian Bay is the port town of Lion's Head [14], with its public Marina and sandy beach.
- Wiarton - At the base of the peninsula is Wiarton, Ontario [15], home of Wiarton Willie
- Sauble Beach - At over seven miles long (11km), Sauble Beach [16] is said to be the second longest freshwater beach in the world after Wasaga Beach
At the South end of The Bruce, Highway 86 (speed 90 km/h (56 mph)*), ending at Amberley, Ontario generally denotes Huron County (to the South) from Bruce County (to the North) Counties.
Media
There is a musical collective based out of Toronto, Ontario called Bruce Peninsula.