- Gatineau Hills
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 theOttawa Valley . They are also the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains which stretch east throughQuebec , beginning north ofMontreal and joining up with others intoVermont andNew Hampshire .The geology of
Gatineau Park , which encompass these foothills, is related to the Eardley Escarpment, which is afault line that lies along the southern edge of the hills. This escarpment makes the part an attractive location for rock climbers and hikers, offering a beautiful view of the relatively flat fields below, which extend to theOttawa River . The Eardley Escarpment is part the northern side of theOttawa-Bonnechere Graben , which is an ancientrift valley .The Gatineau Hills are also significant as a
skiing destination, serving the neighbouring communities ofOttawa ,Ontario andGatineau, Quebec .Gatineau Park contains over 190 km of cross-country trails, and plays host to the annual "Gatineau Loppet" competition. Downhill skiing is also available, at locations includingCamp Fortune ,Mont Cascades , andVorlage . The hills are small compared to the ski areas in the northeast, such as Mont Tremblant and Mont Ste-Anne, or southeast inVermont ,New Hampshire andNew York in the USA.The location of the hills are also useful for communications, and
Ryan Tower , a prominent communications tower atCamp 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.
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