Monday, August 15, 2011

Badlands/ MyWorld

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:

Shammickite said...

I have never been there, I think I will have to put it on my list of interesting places to go! Great pictures.

eileeninmd said...

What a neat place to visit, the rock formations are pretty. Lovely collection of photos.

Kate said...

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!

MadSnapper said...

amazing, i had no idea you had badlands way up there. thanks for sharing. great shots

TexWisGirl said...

wow! beautiful!

Lois Evensen said...

It's beautiful. I have never seen this before in Canada.

Randy said...

Looks like a great place for a hike!

Tanya Breese said...

they look really pretty with the green shrubs around!

Jack said...

This is all new to me. Thanks for today's education.

Martha Z said...

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.

Indrani said...

Amazing formations. Great captures.

Halcyon said...

Wow! This is really beautiful. I may need to check this out in person. :)

Kathy said...

Interesting and beautiful geology.

RedPat said...

I had no idea we had these up here! Great shots>

Jack said...

If you remember Adventure Car Hop, then you would definitely remember Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsburg.

Tina´s PicStory said...

Great shots and this little clouds are so pretty - perfect for PicStory - this week: Sky :)
LG Tina

VioletSky said...

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.

Sylvia K said...

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

Jenn Jilks said...

Much excitement on the bad land!
I love your macros,too. Still working on mastering the thing. Thanks for visiting!

George said...

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.

ellen b. said...

That is so interesting...never seen anything like it.
Glad you had camera company :0)

Lowell said...

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!

Anonymous said...

wow, this is so fascinating. how did you hear of it? is this near where you live?

Cildemer said...

Amazing scenery! And your pics are fabulous!
Thanks for sharing;o)

***
Happy week****

Michelle said...

Looks like a photographer's paradise. Nice

Ruth Hiebert said...

Very interesting.I never knew there were badlands in Ontario.

Stephanie said...

Wow! I did not know this existed in that area. Nice shots!

Roan said...

Interesting and amazing. Very nice shots!

cheryl said...

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!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Amazing colour tones and contours in those rocks! Incredible sight! Enjoyed this series of photos!

Unknown said...

this is an incredible place! the undulating red rocks are most amazing. fab shots.

Anonymous said...

Those rocks are amazing!

Darla said...

Very interesting, it looks like it covers a pretty large area.

Darla

Stewart M said...

Hi there - what a strange looking place - shame it was caused by human damage rather then something else!

Cheers Stewart M - Australia

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Interesting, the effects of bad farming practices and result is so attractive to photograph.

Carver said...

Fascinating post about a magnificent place. I love the shots of the erosion and the patterns it makes.

Gattina said...

Makes me think of South Morocco, they have "badlands" too. I love these red rocky mountains !

Malyss said...

We have also a place with red rocks around here; It's called "L'Esterel", and it's a protected aera.

Judy said...

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!!

Cassy said...

Amazingly beautiful. I never seen a place like this.

Cassy from Beginner Free Guitar Lessons

Viola said...

WoW! What an odd landscape! I've never seen that before.. Very interesting! :)
Lovely pictures! :)

Frostbite and Sunburn said...

Great photos - thanks!

Zosia said...

I used to live not that far from there in Orangeville some time ago.

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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.