Cheltenham Badlands, Caledon, Ontario
Welcome to the Red Planet!
Okay, truth be told, this is not Mars but a geological phenomenon here in Ontario. These badlands - an area of soft rock that forms rounded hills and gullies where no vegetation grows - was formed more than 450 million years ago. Erosion caused by poor farming practices uncovered the rock about a century ago.
Queenston shale, once the edge of an ancient sea floor
Queenston shale is a soft iron-rich rock - iron oxide creating the reddish colour. The greenish grey is also iron oxide but circulating ground water has changed the red to green.
Overview of the eroded area
Wind and rain continue to erode the shale but signs on the property urge visitors to not dig or slide down the dunes.
And look! Other photographers were there too!
The badlands is part of the Ontario's Niagara Escarpment's designation as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
I am linking to My World.
43 comments:
I have never been there, I think I will have to put it on my list of interesting places to go! Great pictures.
What a neat place to visit, the rock formations are pretty. Lovely collection of photos.
We humans not only crave unusual sights such as these marvelous geological formations, but we also have the need to find nature to appreciate the world in which we live.
The US also has a Badlands National Park in South Dakota, equally as awesome. Come visit us, too!
amazing, i had no idea you had badlands way up there. thanks for sharing. great shots
wow! beautiful!
It's beautiful. I have never seen this before in Canada.
Looks like a great place for a hike!
they look really pretty with the green shrubs around!
This is all new to me. Thanks for today's education.
I've never seen badlands quite like these. Most have little vegetation for miles. I can see why these are popular with photographers. If I were in the area I'd sure be there with my camera.
Amazing formations. Great captures.
Wow! This is really beautiful. I may need to check this out in person. :)
Interesting and beautiful geology.
I had no idea we had these up here! Great shots>
If you remember Adventure Car Hop, then you would definitely remember Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsburg.
Great shots and this little clouds are so pretty - perfect for PicStory - this week: Sky :)
LG Tina
This is high on my list of places to visit. Actually was waiting for the weather to become a little cooler...
great photos of hidden gem.
Marvelous post and wonderful captures as always and what an incredible place! I learned something new today, too! One of the best things about blogging! Hope you have a great week!
Sylvia
Much excitement on the bad land!
I love your macros,too. Still working on mastering the thing. Thanks for visiting!
These are great photos. They remind me of the badlands we saw on our trip out west, except there is more greenery in Ontario's badlands.
That is so interesting...never seen anything like it.
Glad you had camera company :0)
How interesting. I've never heard of this (one of probably millions of things of which I've never heard) ... did you have a tripod with you?
Fun post!
wow, this is so fascinating. how did you hear of it? is this near where you live?
Amazing scenery! And your pics are fabulous!
Thanks for sharing;o)
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Happy week****
Looks like a photographer's paradise. Nice
Very interesting.I never knew there were badlands in Ontario.
Wow! I did not know this existed in that area. Nice shots!
Interesting and amazing. Very nice shots!
wow! i have lived in southern ontario all my life and never really heard of this place - recently saw pictures online and wondered where it was... now i know and will go! thanks for sharing these images!
Amazing colour tones and contours in those rocks! Incredible sight! Enjoyed this series of photos!
this is an incredible place! the undulating red rocks are most amazing. fab shots.
Those rocks are amazing!
Very interesting, it looks like it covers a pretty large area.
Darla
Hi there - what a strange looking place - shame it was caused by human damage rather then something else!
Cheers Stewart M - Australia
Interesting, the effects of bad farming practices and result is so attractive to photograph.
Fascinating post about a magnificent place. I love the shots of the erosion and the patterns it makes.
Makes me think of South Morocco, they have "badlands" too. I love these red rocky mountains !
We have also a place with red rocks around here; It's called "L'Esterel", and it's a protected aera.
I heard about the badlands on another blog earlier in the summer, and I have the directions written down for my next trip to that part of the world!!
Amazingly beautiful. I never seen a place like this.
Cassy from Beginner Free Guitar Lessons
WoW! What an odd landscape! I've never seen that before.. Very interesting! :)
Lovely pictures! :)
Great photos - thanks!
I used to live not that far from there in Orangeville some time ago.
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