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The Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada lies between Georgian Bay and the main basin of Lake Huron. It extends roughly north-northwestwards from the rest of southern Ontario, pointing toward Manitoulin Island, with which it forms the widest strait, the Main Channel, joining Georgian Bay to the rest of Lake Huron. The peninsula is part of the ridge known as the Niagara Escarpment.
Administratively the Bruce Peninsula (often referred to locally as just The Bruce) is part of Bruce County. The area is a tourist destination. Towns on the peninsula include Tobermory and Wiarton. The area is home to the Bruce Peninsula National Park, Fathom Five National Marine Park and the part of the Bruce Trail.
The Bruce Peninsula offers camping, hiking, fishing and nature. It is 3 hours north of Toronto. It has two national parks - The Bruce Peninsula National Park and the Fathom Five National Marine Park, more then half a dozen nature reserves, the Niagara Escarpment and the Bruce Trail, making it attractive to naturalists.
Some Facts about the Bruce Peninsula
- The Bruce Peninsula is part of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve.
- The Bruce Peninsula is home to 2 National Parks, The Bruce Peninsula National Park, and Fathom Five National Marine Park.
- The Bruce Peninsula has the largest remaining area of forest and natural habitat in Southern Ontario.
- The Bruce Peninsula is home to some of the oldest trees in eastern North America.
- The peninsula contains one of the greatest concentrations of native orchid species in North America.
The peninsula lies within Bruce County, and the Bruce Trail runs through the region to its northern terminus in Tobermory. It is named for James Bruce or Lord Elgin, Governor General of the Province of Canada.
History
The Bruce Peninsula is a place of beauty, from the 200-foot tall cliffs facing Georgian Bay, to the peaceful beaches on the shores of Lake Huron. It is here that the Niagara Escarpment starts its 700-kilometre jaunt from Tobermory to Queenston, on the Niagara Peninsula. Millions of years ago during the Silurian Period, the bedrock of the escarpment was formed. Through the following ages, ancient oceans eroded away the softer bases of shale, then huge glaciers carved their way through the escarpment leaving massive boulders, gravel and sand, creating a unique atmosphere. Much of the Bruce is now preserved under the United Nations as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.Lighthouses of the Bruce Peninsula
Cove Island Lighthouse was built in 1858 to mark the passage through the perilous strait between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The stone lightkeeper's cottage adjacent to the tower was built at the same time. The Lighthouse stands 90' above the water and is 80' in height from its base. Cove Island Light is currently kindled by a 500 Watt light, the power is run underwater from Tobermory. It was originally fuelled by sperm whale oil using an Argand lamp, then by flatwick coal oil lamp, then replaced in the 1900s by vapour oil lamp. You can view the lighthouse from the Chicheemaun, or from a tour boat out of Tobermory. Built : 1855-59 Construction : Conical, Limestone Status : Active Location : Cove Island, Ontario Just North of Tobermory, Ontario Lat. 45º 19' 37" N - Long. 81º 44' 07" W Height : 85 feet Access : Boat, located on the North side of Cove Island, approximately 7 miles North/Northwest of Tobermory harbour.
Wildlife
There are many varieties of wildlife on the Bruce Peninsula. From the red squirrel to the black bear, the lynx to the chipmunk, many species are represented. The most commonly viewed species are the chipmunk, squirrel, raccoon, porcupine, snowshoe hare, skunk, white-tailed deer, snakes and frogs. A little more rarely seen, and found mostly in the heavily forested area near the top of the peninsula are the black bear, fisher, long-eared bats, northern flying squirrel, fox, martin, Massasauga rattlesnake, red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, hermit thrush, black-throated blue warbler, scarlet tanager and yellow-spotted salamander.Birds also make their homes here. You can see bald eagles soar majestically along the cliffs, or see hummingbirds flying from flower to flower. Most birds do not like to fly over water, thus they will follow the land up the Niagara Escarpment to Tobermory, then follow the islands through Manitoulin Island and beyond. Most birds also travel at night, so it is a perfect opportunity during the day to spot them resting. The highest concentration of nesting birds can be found in the Bruce in May and June each year. These include the blackthroated, parula, yellow-rumped, and the green warblers. They find their summer homes in the wooded areas along Lake Huron. The Annual Huron Fringefest Birding Festival in May celebrates the spring migration.
Migrating Hawks also follow the Escarpment. Hawks travel in the day, and can be seen up near Cabot Head in the open areas west of Dyers Bay, and up near Tobermory in April.
Wildflowers & Orchids
RARE FLOWERS AND FERNS OF THE BRUCE PENINSULA Some of the rarest flowers and ferns in Ontario can be found growing in the Bruce Peninsula:
Lakeside Daisy (Hymenoxys acaulis var. glabra) This is one Ontario's rarest plants. This showy member of the sun flower or daisy family grows at five sites on the Bruce Peninsula, in a destinctive and unusual habitat, alvar. Lakeside Daisy (or Rubberweed, as it is sometimes called) is a showy, spring blooming, perennial which arises from a short, thick taproot. It has dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers on stalks which reach a maximum height of about 40cm. In Ontario its habitat is alkaline, seasonally wet in spring and fall and moderately to extemely drougthy in summer.
Dwarf Lake Iris (iris lacustris) The Dwarf Lake Iris only grows in very special sites, one being the northern shores of Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula. This wildflower is appreciated for its beauty, extreme rarity and for its genetic potential.The Dwarf Lake Iris thrives on the shorelines in the cool air that flows off the lake, enjoys moist, sandy or rocky soil with the right amount of sun penetrating to the forest floor. It has deep blue to purple blossoms enhanced by bright-yellow crests. Bloom period is late May and early June.
Northern Holly Fern (Polypodium Lonchitis) An evergreen fern of the north, to be looked for on the cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula. The leaf stalk is densely scaly and gradually diminishing in size toward the tip. The roots are short, stout and very scaly. No other fern in the north country has both once-cut fronds and spiny edges. The Northern Holly Fern is found in rock crevices or at the base of boulders, mostly in boreal and subalpine coniferous forests.
ORCHIDS OF THE BRUCE PENINSULA Globally – there are more than 30 000 orchid species. Canada is home to 77 species of these orchids. Ontario has 61 varieties of orchids – and of these – 44 can be found in the Bruce Peninsula
A selection of the most interesting orchids on the Bruce Peninsula:
Yellow Lady's Slipper - Cypripedium parviflorum - Common, native orchid, classified ‘secure' - Blooms May to June - Prefers drier soil than other Lady's slippers - Easy to find along roadsides as Johnston Harbour Road - Remarkable: produces the smallest seeds by any group of flowers!
Nodding Ladies' Tresses - Spiranthes cernua - Common, native orchid, classified ‘secure' - Blooms late August and September, or until a heavy frost - Prefers moist and sandy soil
Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid - Platanthera leucophaea - Very uncommon orchid, grows only in Ontario, classified as ‘special concern' since 1986 - Blooms late June to early August - Prefers wettest parts of fens - To find at the fens at Singing Sands
Ram's Head Lady Slipper - Cypripedium arietinum - Quite common, native orchid, classified sensitive - Blooms the last 10 days of May to mid. June - Prefers woodland environment - To find at Singing Sands
European Common Twayblade - Listera ovata - Very unusual, not native orchid, grows only in Ontario, classified as ‘exotic' - Blooms June and July - Prefers wet soil, over dolomite area, cedar woodlands
Helleborine – Epipactis helleborine - Relative usual, not native orchid, classified as exotic - Blooms late July to August; rarely, into October - Prefers swamps and stream edges, gravelly roadsides, sheltered sandy beaches, open woodlands - To find at Singing Sands
Villages
At the top of the Bruce Peninsula is Tobermory - the home of the ChiCheemaun and the National Parks. In the Center is Lion's Head - with its public Marina and sandy beach - at the base is Wiarton - home of the world famous Wiarton Willie and then there is the town with one of the best beaches in Canada - Sauble Beach.External links
- Guide to the Bruce Peninsula
- Satellite view of the Bruce Peninsula
- Getaway to the Bruce Peninsula - Ontario's 4 season Getaway
"Bruce Peninsula"