Trafalgar Moraine

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The Trafalgar Moraine is a geological landform in northern Oakville, Ontario, Canada. It is a subtler topological feature than the better-known Oak Ridges Moraine, primarily because it was formed as an end moraine at the terminus of a glacial ice sheet, instead of between two retreating ice lobes (known as interlobate). The ice sheet pushed material to form the ridge, which is composed of Halton Till sediment, rich in silt and clay. By contrast, the Oak Ridges Moraine is primarily sand and gravel. The ridge was probably formed during a pause in the retreat of the ice sheet.

[edit] Geology

The Trafalgar Moraine is approximately 20 km long and 4 km wide, extending from the Niagara Escarpment north of Nelson to Streetsville in an east-northeast trend; at the Oakville boundary, the trend shifts northeast.

This moraine contains the headwaters for six creeks in Oakville. It is home to 496 plant species, 10 fish species, and 220 animal species, of which 168 are birds, 34 are mammals, and 18 are amphibians.

[edit] References