What Is the Oak Ridges Moraine?
Glaciers shaped the moraine more than 12,000 years ago. One of Ontario’s most significant landforms, the moraine forms the major drainage divide between lakes Ontario and Simcoe. As such, it greatly influences the movement of groundwater and surface water in the Greater Toronto Area. This prominent ridge of hills stretches 160 kilometres from the Trent River in the east to the Niagara Escarpment in the west, crossing 32 municipalities and varying in width from three to 23 km. It comprises several ecosystems and performs a wide range of other functions that are vital to the quality of life and economy of south-central Ontario. The moraine’s forests, savannahs, prairies, fields, wetlands, lakes and steams – complemented by predominantly rural and agricultural land uses – represent a significant countryside resource for the millions of people who live in south-central Ontario. The moraine also connects the region’s largest natural areas to form an entity that sustains area-sensitive fores
