La Cloche Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Cloche Mountains |
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| La Cloche Range | |
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| Geography | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Range coordinates | 46°7.5′N 81°45′W / 46.1250°N 81.750°W |
The La Cloche Mountains, also known as the La Cloche Range, are a beautiful mountain range in Northern Ontario, Canada. They are located along the northern shore of Lake Huron, close to Manitoulin Island. These mountains are part of the huge Canadian Shield and are mostly made of bright white quartzite rock.
The La Cloche Mountains stretch from La Cloche Provincial Park near Massey all the way to Killarney Provincial Park, which is southwest of Sudbury. You can find small towns like West River, Willisville, and Whitefish Falls right inside the range. Even from Manitoulin Island, you can sometimes see these unique white mountains!
Ontario Highway 6 is the main road that goes through this mountain range.
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Exploring the La Cloche Mountains
Killarney Provincial Park is a very popular spot for visitors within the La Cloche Mountains. It's known for its stunning scenery.
Another cool feature is the "Heaven's Gate Trail." This trail goes all the way across the mountains, from Willisville in the east to Massey in the west. People believe it might have been an old trade route used by First Nations long ago. As you hike, you can see the North Channel of Lake Huron to the south. This trail is quite challenging and long, so it's not hiked very often.
How the Mountains Were Formed
The La Cloche Mountains are incredibly old, about 1.88 billion years old! They are made of a type of rock called quartz sandstone. This sandstone was laid down in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario about 2.5 billion years ago.
The mountains themselves were created during a period called the Penokean Orogeny. This was a time when the Canadian Shield was very active, and mountains were forming. During this process, the sandstone was squeezed and heated. This changed it into the hard, white Quartzite rock we see today.
Scientists believe that the La Cloche Mountains were once much taller than today's Rocky Mountains. Over billions of years, wind, water, and ice slowly wore them down. Today, their highest point is about 539 meters (1,768 feet) above sea level. Even after all that erosion, they are still among the highest points in Ontario.
There's also a part of the range called the South La Cloche Mountains. This section extends south into Georgian Bay near Badgeley Point, north of Killarney.
A Bell of a Name: Mountain History
The name "La Cloche" has an interesting story! According to old legends, these hills were used as "warning bells" or tocsins by the local First Nations people. When certain rocks were struck, they would make a sound that could be heard far away.
Later, when French voyageurs (fur traders and explorers) came to the area, they heard about these "Bell Rocks." They named the area "La Cloche," which is the French word for "bell."
Images for kids
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Highway 6 through the La Cloche Mountains near Whitefish Falls.
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View from the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney Provincial Park.
