Spencer Gorge / Webster's Falls Conservation Area
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Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area is located on the Niagara Escarpment in Dundas, Ontario, a constituent community of
Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a Canada 2016 Census, population of 569,353, and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington, ...
, and is owned and operated by the
Hamilton Conservation Authority The Hamilton Conservation Authority maintains the greenspace, trails, parks and some attractions in the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) has managed the natural environment in partnership with the City of Hami ...
. It has views over Hamilton and a two major waterfalls that are accessible via a system of trails. The natural features found in the area are considered to be provincially significant. A shuttle service runs from Christie Lake Conservation Area to Spencer Gorge/Webster Falls Conservation Area, for visitors to access this conservation area on weekends and holidays.


Geology

The main feature of the area is the Spencer Gorge, a "Y"-shaped gorge around in length, with the depth reaching . The walls of the gorge are very steep, contrasting the gently sloping landscape found in the nearby areas. The gorge was incised by the melt streams of the
Wisconsin glaciation The Wisconsin Glacial Episode, also called the Wisconsin glaciation, was the most recent glacial period of the North American ice sheet complex. This advance included the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, which nucleated in the northern North American Cord ...
about 10,000 years ago. The gorge displays a near-complete stratigraphic section from the red shales of the
Queenston Formation The Queenston Formation is a geological formation of Upper Ordovician age (Maysvillian to Richmondian Stage), which outcrops in Ontario, Canada (along the northern and eastern flanks of the Niagara Escarpment, as well as east of Ottawa) and New Yo ...
to the
caprock Caprock or cap rock is a more resistant rock type overlying a less resistant rock type,Kearey, Philip (2001). ''Dictionary of Geology'', 2nd ed., Penguin Reference, London, New York, etc., p. 41.. . analogous to an upper crust on a cake that is ha ...
of the Lockport Formation (
dolomite Dolomite may refer to: *Dolomite (mineral), a carbonate mineral *Dolomite (rock), also known as dolostone, a sedimentary carbonate rock *Dolomite, Alabama, United States, an unincorporated community *Dolomite, California, United States, an unincor ...
and
limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
).


Waterfalls

Measuring in height, Tew's Falls is the tallest waterfall found in Hamilton, among 96 others. Located at above the sea level, it is also the highest waterfall in the city.
Webster's Falls Webster's Falls, noted for its panoramas, is a classical curtain/ plunge waterfall found in the Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The water flows down Spencer Creek. In the past the falls have been kn ...
is another major waterfall. With its crest, it is the largest within the city. The gorge is an excellent example of the process of waterfall recession. At least 10 bowl-shaped basins have been identified within the area, indicating the earlier positions of the waterfall. Some of the largest and the oldest identified basins have the diameter of up to , with depth of up to , making them comparable to the present state of the
Horseshoe Falls Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three waterfalls that collectively form Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada–United States border. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for hydropower generation, flows ...
.


See also

*
List of waterfalls in Hamilton, Ontario The city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada is home to more than 100 waterfalls and cascades, most of which are on or near the Bruce Trail as it winds through the Niagara Escarpment. Ontario's internationally recognized Niagara Escarpment provides ...


References


External links


Hamilton- "The Waterfall Capital of the World" (www.cityofwaterfalls.ca)

Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area





{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer Gorge Webster's Falls Conservation Area Conservation areas in Ontario Waterfalls of Hamilton, Ontario Niagara Escarpment Protected areas of Hamilton, Ontario Protected areas established in 1967 1967 establishments in Ontario