What is special about Crawford Lake?
What is special about Crawford Lake?
Crawford Lake is a very unusual lake. It is what is known as meromictic, meaning that due to its small size compared to extreme depth, the water column doesn’t circulate properly. The result of this “partial mixing” is that only the top half of the lake water contains oxygen.
How was Crawford lake formed?
McAndrews has proposed that the lake was formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock overlying an underground river which served as a spillway during the last Glaciation. This collapse blocked the drainage system and created a lake some 2-1/2 hectares in extent and 24 meters deep.
How old is Crawford Lake?
Digs of the area just south of the grindstone revealed the foundations of an eleven-longhouse village….
| Crawford Lake Conservation Area | |
|---|---|
| Area | 232 acres (94 ha) |
| Established | 1969 |
| Governing body | Conservation Halton |
| www.conservationhalton.ca/park-details?park=crawford-lake |
How deep is Crawford Lake Ontario?
74′
Crawford Lake/Max depth
What is at the bottom of Crawford Lake?
Crawford Lake is meromictic, which means it has sequentially deposited seasonal sediment laminations called varves at the bottom; these allow for accurate dating of sediment cores and make Crawford Lake a prime site for archeological and geochemical studies.
Can you swim in Crawford Lake?
Many people ask can you swim in Crawford Lake? The answer is no! Swimming is not permitted in Crawford Lake because it is a rare meromictic lake and a habitat for many species. Swimming in the lake (or allowing a dog to swim in the lake) would be disruptive to this habitat.
What type of lake is Crawford Lake?
Meromictic
It is located within Crawford Lake Conservation Area, a Regionally Environmentally Sensitive Area, an Ontario Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, and part of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve….Crawford Lake (Halton Region)
| Crawford Lake | |
|---|---|
| Type | Meromictic |
| Primary inflows | Unnamed creek |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 270 m (886 ft) |
Is Crawford Lake deep?
Why is it called Rattlesnake Point?
Rattlesnake Point receives its name from the snake-like path cut by glaciers along the edges of the Niagara Escarpment, rather than from the Massassauga Rattlesnake.
Why is it called Rattlesnake Pass?
Rattlesnake Pass is where the Oregon Trail passed around Devil’s Gate. Among the over 350,000 emigrants that went through Rattlesnake pass between 1840 and 1870, was Frederick Richard Fulkerson. Frederick passed away several weeks later while the Fulkersons where camped at Rattlesnake Pass. …
How did Lake Crawford get its name?
The lake is named after the Crawford family, who lived on the site and donated the land to the conservation authority. Their house remained there until it burned down.
What is the conservation area at Crawford Lake?
The conservation area contains Crawford Lake, a reconstructed Iroquoian village, and several hiking trails. A study conducted in 1971 determined that the lake is meromictic, which makes the lake a prime site for archaeological and geochemical studies.
What is the significance of the longhouses on Lake Crawford?
The longhouses are representative of life in the village at the time, with fireplaces, fur-lined bunk beds, and various items used at the time. The lake is named after the Crawford family, who lived on the site and donated the land to the conservation authority.
Did you know there is a pre-contact native village in Crawford Lake?
Crawford Lake is one of a handful of meromictic lakes in Ontario and this fact led to the discovery of a pre-contact native village. It was snowing off and on as I parked in the Crawford Lake conservation area where having correct change would have saved me including a small donation in the envelope.
