Fonthill Kame

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The Fonthill Kame is a geological feature (a kame is a giant hill) located in the centre of the Niagara Peninsula in Pelham, Ontario, Canada. It is composed of sand and gravel deposited by the retreating glaciers of the last ice age. It rises some 75 m (246 ft) above the surrounding land (290 m above sea level) and is the highest elevation in the region.

The kame is 6 km (4 mi) east to west and 3 km (2 mi) north to south. It slopes gradually on the west side, more steeply on the south and east and merges with the Short Hills Provincial Park area of the Niagara Escarpment on the north.

The Fonthill Kame has considerable influence on the climate of Pelham by sheltering it from the winds from the southwest. This provides good growing conditions for fruit crops, including the vines that supply the local wine industry. It is also mined for sand and gravel.

Research on the kame centres on its hydrogeological features, which are important to the Niagara Peninsula.[1] The Government of Ontario Ministry of the Environment has committed $85,000 toward the study of groundwater flow, discharge, and baseflow measurements.[2]

[edit] References

  • Bramble, Linda (2004). Touring Niagara Wine Country. James Lorimer & Company. ISBN 1-55028-795-8

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Water Quality Monitoring. Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
  2. ^ Niagara Groundwater Management Study. Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
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