Monday, January 10, 2011

Hamilton/ My World

Hamilton Harbour (a.k.a. Burlington Bay) - ship carrying iron ore or coal

My husband and I pass through Hamilton, Ontario, several times a year when we visit relatives in Upstate New York.

Hamilton - at the westernmost end of Lake Ontario - is the busiest freshwater port in Canada. It's an important hub for cargo such as steel, coal, petroleum and grain products traveling through the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway.

Hamilton Harbour - smoke billowing from steel mill smokestacks

Hamilton is Canada's ninth most populous city with a population of approximately 650,000.  Steel and metal manufacturing is a major industry.

Lake Ontario as seen from Hamilton Beach

A canal separates Hamilton Harbour from the rest of Lake Ontario. The light you see here on the pier marks the entrance into the canal.  Beyond the light you can see the city of Burlington.


Burlington is to the northeast of Hamilton. The highway travels over the Burlington Canal: Hamilton Harbour is to the west of the bridge, Hamilton Beach to the east.

Toronto as seen from Hamilton Beach on a not-so-clear day

Toronto is approximately 70 kilometres (43 miles) to the northeast by land. It must be about the same distance by water.



Visit My World Tuesday  HERE to see tons of photos from around the world.

29 comments:

Rune Eide said...

I suspect an environmental problem, but a huge opportunity for the photographer! :-)

Kate said...

Wonderful shots of the area and your description makes it far more interesting than it might be by just thinking about the area. It reminds me a bit of Duluth, MN that also has shipping activity.

Halcyon said...

Hamilton used to have a big Ferranti-Packard transformer factory, if I'm not mistaken. :)

The company that I work for has its Canadian headquarters in Burlington. I was there not long ago. That little stretch of road from Buffalo to Toronto has some interesting scenery.

Sally in WA said...

Very nice series of Hamilton. I really liked the shot of Toronto. It has readily identifiable skyline, doesn't it?

Maude Lynn said...

I love the composition of that second shot!

Paulie said...

What an educational tour! I was wondering if you were a Canadian by birthright or by residence. . .

NatureFootstep said...

I´ve been in Hamilton once, and Toronto too. 1990 I think. The air was all smoky due to all that ore processing. Not a place I´d like to live in.

Sylvia K said...

I do hate to see the environmental problems that you know are being created -- have been created, but as Rune wrote, it does provide a great opportunity for the photographer. And you have put together a really informative and interesting post! Thank you!! Hope you have a great week!

Sylvia

Anonymous said...

wonderful shots. i hope to one day see this part of canada too.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Bill LOVES places like this; I kid him about always ending up in industrial areas and ports. I have learned to be interested in them over the years. This was an interesting post for that reason -- I like the snippets of information about the port that you included with the interesting picture.

Carver said...

This was a very interesting post and your photographs captured Hamilton Harbor very well.

Randy said...

Nice shots with a very informative post.

Kay L. Davies said...

Everything I ever wanted to know about Hamilton, Ontario, but was afraid to ask...
Just kidding. I am not particularly interested in industry but I've had an interest in shipping ever since my young days at The Vancouver Sun when part of my job was to gather the "Ships in Port" list.
I've always wanted to travel by freighter and have never had the opportunity. Now I can't, because I'm not sufficiently healthy.
Thanks for the info and pix.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Penelope Notes said...

Industry has a way of interfering with the natural beauty of a landscape. Your photos do a good job of highlighting the less appealing realities that are part of every day existence.

George said...

Thanks for sharing Hamilton with us. I found it interesting that so many mills appear to be working. Many steel mills on our side of the border have closed down.

Jack said...

I come from the business world, so I am much more positive about this series than some others. I see the making of goods people want and need, transporting them, jobs, taxes and an economy that has a chance.

Unknown said...

i thought the smoke were clouds.:p wonderful shots.

Gattina said...

Looks very industrial !

Kristin said...

Lovely set of photos of yours. The first one is especially stunning. Love the composition and mood it sets.

Cezar and Léia said...

Very interesting post EG and your last picture is outstanding, I love this kind of composition!
Léia

Yoshi said...

I am fascinated by taking a photo of industries/factories. It's so beautiful in its own way, especially if they are by the water!!!
Thanks for sharing and commenting on my entry.
Yoshi

Francisca said...

I haven't been to Hamilton in many years (lived in St Catharines 1970-72 and Toronto/Guelph 1974-77), and I must say I am surprised it is still so industrial! Intersting post, EG.

Lowell said...

Well, what a fascinating post! I've never been up that way, but it does remind me a bit of Duluth, as Kate mentioned.

Lots of activity going on. Mother's parents settled in the Iron Range of northern Minnesota which must have some connections with the port of Hamilton...right?

Very fine photography!

VP said...

I like ships and I'm always curious to see other ports around the world. The photo of Toronto faraway in the haze is something magic...

Lesley said...

Very informative post a very familiar area.

Indrani said...

Great views.

Reader Wil said...

I like this kind of informative posts! This is how we get to know each other's worlds. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to walk around the port areas with my camera, but I doubt they'd let you do that.

KK said...

Hi,

I would like to request permission to use your images for fact sheets about the Great Lakes that are being compiled at my work. Please provide me with your email address so that I can send you a message with the details. Thank you.

Ms. Khan

Friends who encourage me

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.