Bruce Peninsula Totally Explained

Everything about The Bruce Peninsula totally explained

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 (External Link

) - 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 (External Link

) - 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 (External Link

) - include:

Black Creek (External Link

)

Ira Lake (External Link

)

Johnstons Harbour (External Link

)

Little Cove (External Link

)

Cabot Head (External Link

)

Smoky Head (External Link

)

Lion's Head (External Link

)

Hope Bay Forest (External Link

) Federation of Ontario Naturalists (External Link

) - 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 don't like to fly over water; thus, that'll 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's 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

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's 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.

Dwarf Lake Iris (iris lacustris) 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.

Northern Holly Fern (polypodium lonchitis) 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:

Yellow Lady's Slipper — cypripedium parviflorum

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!

Nodding Ladies' Tresses — spiranthes cernua

Common, native orchid, classified ‘secure'

Blooms late August and September, or until a heavy frost

Prefers moist and sandy soil

Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid — Platanthera leucophaea

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

Ram's-Head Lady's-Slipper — Cypripedium arietinum

Quite common, native orchid, classified sensitive

Blooms the last 10 days of May to mid. June

Prefers woodland environment

To find at Singing Sands

European Common Twayblade — Listera ovata

Very unusual, not native orchid, grows only in Ontario, classified as ‘exotic'

Blooms June and July

Prefers wet soil, over dolomite area, cedar woodlands

Helleborine — Epipactis helleborine

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 (External Link

) 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 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 (External Link

), with its public Marina and sandy beach.

Wiarton - At the base of the peninsula is Wiarton, Ontario (External Link

), home of Wiarton Willie

Sauble Beach - At over seven miles long (11km), Sauble Beach (External Link

) 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 ), 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

Further Information

Get more info on 'Bruce Peninsula'.

External Link Exchanges

Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:

<a href="http://bruce_peninsula.totallyexplained.com">Bruce Peninsula Totally Explained</a>

Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned.