The Fonthill Kame-Delta is unique because it serves as the highest point of land in the Niagara region. While it has never yet received designation by any official agencies, it is easily identifiable by several transmission and microwave relay towers (used for phone signals, tv and internet) standing on its location.
Open Year-Round
From Toronto: Head Southwest on QEW approximately 96.5km
Take Exit 48 for Martindale Rd approximately 0.2km
Right (south) at Martindale Rd approximately 2.8km
Continue onto Louth St approximately 3.1km
Right (southwest) at Pelham Rd approximately 3.5km
Left (south) at Pelham St N approximately 0.4km
Parking for Shorthills Provincial Park is on the left where the Fonthill Delta-Kame can be found
From Fort Erie: Head west on QEW towards Exit 1A approximately 46.9km
Take Exit 51 for Seventh St approximately 0.8km
Right (south) at Seventh St approximately 4.3km
Left (east) at St Paul St W approximately 0.8km
Right (south) onto 5th Louth St approximately 3.5km
Left (east) at Pelham Rd approximately 0.7km
Right (south) at Pelham St N approximately 0.4km
Parking for Shorthills Provincial Park is on the left where the Fonthill Delta-Kame can be found
Fonthill, which is in the municipality of Pelham, is unique for a feature known as a Kame - Delta. It is recognized as a proglacial delta of the ancient LakeWarren. Put simply it served as a beach strip for this ancient glacial lake. Sea sediment can be found more than 242 meters above sea level. The great northern slope is the point of contact with the ancient ice field. The small southern slope is the lake ward slope of this glacial delta. This ancient lake was located east of where the Great Lakes sit today. It drains high over Lake Erie and flowed into the Lake Ontariobasin. Its beach was the highest of the gravel margins which suggests this was the most recent layer of strata to form.
During the retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier which covered Lake Erie and the entire Niagara Peninsula, the southern limit of the ice field remained nearly stationary at the Niagara Escarpment. The resulting melt water from the glacier subsequently formed a series of glacial lakes. This also resulted in water flowing from the glacier carrying large amounts of debris, ultimately building the layers which formed the Kame - Delta.
Specific portions of the Fonthill Kame possess unique and important biological qualities. The area is representative of a number of Carolinian species and is home to over 500 bog, valley, and meadow plant species The habitat within the Kame is also well suited for a variety of animal species including the white-tailed deer, opossum, red fox, and meadow voles. It also serves as a feeding and sanctuary area for wood ducks, green-winged teals, mallard and black ducks, and great blue herons. The Fonthill Kame is also home to some rare and threatened species including the spotted salamander, red-backed salamander, pickerel frog, pileated woodpecker, and the spotted turtle. Also prevalent are rare plant species including ginseng, broak-beech fern, flowering dogwood, black walnut, swamp white oak, sassafras, tulip tree and the cucumber tree.
Hiking, Walking, Bird Watching
Public parking
Fonthill, Ontario
Municipality Pelham
Latitude: | 43.049823 |
Longitude: | -79.336052 |