Fonthill Kame

The Fonthill Kame is a geological feature (a "kame" is a giant hill) located in the centre of the Niagara Peninsula in Pelham, Ontario, Canada. It is composed of sand and gravel deposited by the retreating glaciers of the last ice age. It rises some convert|75|m|ft|lk=on|abbr=on|0 above the surrounding land (290 m above sea level) and is the highest elevation in the region.

The kame is convert|6|km|mi|lk=on|abbr=on|0 east to west and convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on|0 north to south. It slopes gradually on the west side, more steeply on the south and east and merges with the Short Hills Provincial Park area of the Niagara Escarpment on the north.

The Fonthill Kame has considerable influence on the climate of Pelham by sheltering it from the winds from the southwest. This provides good growing conditions for fruit crops, including the vines that supply the local wine industry. It is also mined for sand and gravel.

Research on the kame centres on its hydrogeological features, which are important to the Niagara Peninsula.Cite web
url=http://www.conservation-niagara.on.ca/water_management/surfacewater.html
title=Water Quality Monitoring
publisher=Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
accessdate=2008-02-12] The Government of Ontario Ministry of the Environment has committed $85,000 toward the study of groundwater flow, discharge, and baseflow measurements.Cite web
url=http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/water/groundwater/niagara/index.htm
title=Niagara Groundwater Management Study
publisher=Ontario Ministry of the Environment
accessdate=2008-02-12]

References

*Bramble, Linda (2004). "Touring Niagara Wine Country". James Lorimer & Company. ISBN 1-55028-795-8

Footnotes