Spencer Gorge Conservation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area |
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| Nearest city | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Established | 1967 |
| Governing body | Hamilton Conservation Authority |
The Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area is a special natural spot in Dundas, Ontario. This area is part of Hamilton, Ontario, and sits right on the famous Niagara Escarpment. The Hamilton Conservation Authority takes care of this beautiful place.
Visitors can enjoy amazing views over the city of Hamilton. The area is also home to two large waterfalls, which you can reach by walking along the trails. The natural features here are very important and are recognized across the province. If you want to visit on weekends or holidays, a shuttle bus can take you there from Christie Lake Conservation Area.
The Story of Spencer Gorge
The main feature of this area is the Spencer Gorge itself. Imagine a deep, "Y"-shaped valley that stretches for about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles). At its deepest points, the gorge is around 100 meters (328 feet) down! The sides of this valley are very steep. This is quite different from the gently sloping land nearby.
This impressive gorge was carved out a very long time ago. About 10,000 years ago, during the Wisconsin Ice Age, melting ice streams created it. The gorge walls show layers of different rocks, like a giant history book. You can see red shale at the bottom and harder rocks like dolomite and limestone at the top.
Amazing Waterfalls
The conservation area is famous for its stunning waterfalls. One of them is Tew's Falls, which is 41 meters (135 feet) tall. This makes it the tallest waterfall in Hamilton, out of 96 others! It's also the highest waterfall in the city, sitting 219 meters (718 feet) above sea level.
Another major waterfall here is Webster's Falls. It has a wide crest, about 30 meters (98 feet) across, making it the largest waterfall in the city by width. The gorge is a great example of how waterfalls move over time. Scientists have found at least 10 bowl-shaped areas in the gorge. These show where the waterfalls used to be long ago. Some of these old basins are huge, up to 350 meters (1,148 feet) wide and 60 meters (197 feet) deep. They are similar in size to parts of the famous Horseshoe Falls at Niagara.
