Gatineau Hills
Encyclopedia
The Gatineau Hills are a geological formation in Canada that makes up part of the southern tip of the Canadian Shield
, and acts as the northern shoulder of the Ottawa Valley
. They are also the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains
which stretch east through Quebec
, beginning north of Montreal
and joining up with others into Vermont
and New Hampshire
.
The geology of Gatineau Park
, which encompass these foothills, is related to the Eardley Escarpment, which is a fault line
that lies along the southern edge of the hills. This escarpment makes the park an attractive location for rock climbers and hikers, offering a beautiful view of the relatively flat fields below, which extend to the Ottawa River
. The Eardley Escarpment is part of the northern side of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben
, which is an ancient rift valley
.
The Gatineau Hills are also significant as a skiing
destination, serving the neighbouring communities of Ottawa
, Ontario
and Gatineau
, Quebec
. Gatineau Park contains over 190 km of cross-country trails, and plays host to the annual Gatineau Loppet competition. Downhill skiing is available at locations including Camp Fortune
, Mont Cascades
, Mont Ste. Marie
and Vorlage. The hills are small compared to the ski areas in the northeast, such as Mont Tremblant and Mont Ste-Anne, or in Vermont
, New Hampshire
and New York
.
The location of the hills are also useful for communications, and Ryan Tower
, a prominent communications tower at Camp Fortune
, provides a large portion of the area's broadcast television and radio signals.
The area is a prime tourist attraction, particularly during the October weeks when the foliage is turning colour. Photographs and paintings of the area are a popular tourist item.
The Gatineau Hills are located in the city of Gatineau, and in Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality, Quebec
.
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
, and acts as the northern shoulder of the Ottawa Valley
Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben
The Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben , with its branch the Timiskaming Graben, is an ancient rift valley in the Canadian Shield of Northeastern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. This rift valley was formed when the Earth's crust moved downward about a kilometre between two major fault zones known as the Mattawa...
. They are also the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains
Laurentian mountains
The Laurentian Mountains are a mountain range in southern Quebec, Canada, north of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River, rising to a highest point of 1166 metres at Mont Raoul Blanchard, north east of Quebec City in the Reserve Faunique des Laurentides. The Gatineau, L'Assomption, Lièvre,...
which stretch east through Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, beginning north of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and joining up with others into Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
The geology of Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park is a park located in the National Capital Region, in Quebec's Outaouais region, just north of Ottawa, Ontario. Administered by the National Capital Commission, the park is a 361 km² wedge of land to the west of the Gatineau River...
, which encompass these foothills, is related to the Eardley Escarpment, which is a fault line
Fault line
In geology, fault line refers to the surface trace of a fault.Fault line, Fault Line, or faultline may also refer to:* "Faultline", a song from the 2008 studio album Versus by The Haunted...
that lies along the southern edge of the hills. This escarpment makes the park an attractive location for rock climbers and hikers, offering a beautiful view of the relatively flat fields below, which extend to the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
. The Eardley Escarpment is part of the northern side of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben
Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben
The Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben , with its branch the Timiskaming Graben, is an ancient rift valley in the Canadian Shield of Northeastern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. This rift valley was formed when the Earth's crust moved downward about a kilometre between two major fault zones known as the Mattawa...
, which is an ancient rift valley
Rift valley
A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift or fault. This action is manifest as crustal extension, a spreading apart of the surface which is subsequently further deepened by the forces of erosion...
.
The Gatineau Hills are also significant as a skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
destination, serving the neighbouring communities of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Gatineau Park contains over 190 km of cross-country trails, and plays host to the annual Gatineau Loppet competition. Downhill skiing is available at locations including Camp Fortune
Camp Fortune
Camp Fortune is a commercial alpine ski center. It is located in the Gatineau Hills north of Gatineau, Quebec, approximately 15 minutes from Downtown Ottawa, Ontario....
, Mont Cascades
Mont Cascades
Mont Cascades is a ski area, water park, and golf course located in Cantley, Quebec. The ski area was established in 1971 and has since grown to include the water park and golf course. The area is host to a terrain park and lit night skiing on 15 of its 20 runs....
, Mont Ste. Marie
Mont Ste. Marie
Mont Ste. Marie is a ski resort owned by Camp Fortune Resorts, located approximately 55 minutes north of the City of Ottawa, in Lac-Sainte-Marie, Quebec, Canada. Between 1997 and 2002, Mont Ste...
and Vorlage. The hills are small compared to the ski areas in the northeast, such as Mont Tremblant and Mont Ste-Anne, or in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The location of the hills are also useful for communications, and Ryan Tower
Ryan Tower
Ryan Tower is a tall guyed mast on the Clifford Slope of Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Quebec, Canada. Erected in 1968, its top is above sea level, making it the highest point in the Ottawa/Gatineau area and an easy-to-spot landmark....
, a prominent communications tower at Camp Fortune
Camp Fortune
Camp Fortune is a commercial alpine ski center. It is located in the Gatineau Hills north of Gatineau, Quebec, approximately 15 minutes from Downtown Ottawa, Ontario....
, provides a large portion of the area's broadcast television and radio signals.
The area is a prime tourist attraction, particularly during the October weeks when the foliage is turning colour. Photographs and paintings of the area are a popular tourist item.
The Gatineau Hills are located in the city of Gatineau, and in Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais is a regional county municipality in the Outaouais region of western Quebec, Canada. The region nearly encircles the City of Gatineau which is to the south...
.