Crawford Lake Conservation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crawford Lake Conservation Area |
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Crawford Lake
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 Crawford Lake Conservation Area
Location in Southern Ontario
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| Location | Milton, Halton, Ontario, Canada |
| Nearest city | Campbellville |
| Area | 232 acres (94 ha) |
| Established | 1969 |
| Governing body | Conservation Halton |
The Crawford Lake Conservation Area is a special natural place near Campbellville in Milton, Ontario, Canada. It's managed by Conservation Halton. This area is important because it's a protected space and part of the Niagara Escarpment, which is a world biosphere reserve. This means it's a globally recognized area for its unique nature. The conservation area has a cool lake called Crawford Lake, a rebuilt Iroquoian village, and many trails for exploring.
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A Special Lake
Crawford Lake is very unusual. In 1971, scientists found out it's a meromictic lake. This means its layers of water don't mix, unlike most lakes. Because of this, the bottom layers of the lake are very still. This makes the lake a perfect spot for scientists to study its history.
Scientists can learn a lot from the lake. They use pollen analysis, which is like studying tiny plant dust (pollen) that has settled in the lake over hundreds of years. By looking at these pollen grains, they can figure out what plants grew in the area a long time ago. They also take sediment cores, which are long samples of mud from the lake bottom. These cores have layers, like rings in a tree, that show the history of the area. By studying the chemicals in these layers, scientists can even learn about air pollution from the past 150 years.
Clues from the Past
The pollen analysis from Crawford Lake gave scientists an exciting clue. They found corn pollen, which suggested that indigenous peoples who grew corn might have lived nearby. Corn was a very important food for groups like the Iroquoian people.
This discovery led to a search around the lake. Soon, they found a grindstone, which would have been used in a village to grind corn. Further digging revealed the foundations of a large village with eleven longhouses. This village was likely home to either the Wendat (Huron) or Neutral Confederacy peoples.
Exploring the Iroquoian Village
Today, you can visit a reconstructed Iroquoian village at Crawford Lake. It's built based on many years of research by archaeologists. They are still studying the original site! This rebuilt village shows what life was like in the 15th century. It's open during certain seasons and for special events.
The village offers programs where you can learn about Iroquoian life and culture. It has three rebuilt longhouses and a palisade (a tall fence for protection). Interestingly, the original village didn't have a palisade. One of the longhouses is used to show modern indigenous art and old items found during digs.
Life in a Longhouse
The longhouses in the village are set up to show how people lived. Inside, you can see fireplaces, bunk beds lined with furs, and different tools and items that people used every day. It's like stepping back in time to see how families lived together in these large homes.
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A reconstructed Iroquoian longhouse
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Interior of a longhouse
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Interior of longhouse
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Gallery of indigenous art in longhouse
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A sculpted bench on the Lake trail
The Crawford Family's Legacy
The lake and the conservation area are named after the Crawford family. They used to live on this land and later donated it to the conservation authority. Their old house was there until it burned down, but a cement front porch survived. You can still see old photos of the house and the Crawford family. The family also had a cedar tree farm on the other side of the lake.
Fun on the Trails
Crawford Lake Conservation Area has lots of trails for you to explore. There are about 19 kilometers (12 miles) of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. These trails even connect to the famous Bruce Trail.
A special boardwalk trail goes all the way around the lake. This boardwalk helps protect the environment while letting visitors enjoy the beautiful views. Along the trail, you'll find cool sculptures and artistic benches. Other trails lead up to the escarpment or connect to the nearby Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, offering even more adventure!
Images for kids
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A boardwalk trail circles the lake
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