Kayaks & Paddle Boards

THE LAKE THAT TOOK OVER 12,000 YEARS TO MAKE

HOW IT WAS MADE

The formation of the lake in Niagara-on-the-Lake is closely tied to the geological history of the region. The town is located at the mouth of the Niagara River, where it flows into Lake Ontario. The lake itself is not a naturally formed body of water but rather a result of the widening and deepening of the Niagara River.

Over time, the river eroded the soft rocks at the base of the escarpment, forming the Niagara Gorge and gradually moving its path northward. As the river meandered and eroded the rock, it created a larger and deeper channel, which eventually led to the formation of a wider section known as the "Niagara-on-the-Lake" or "Lake Iroquois."

Around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, the Niagara River reached its current path, and Lake Ontario, which is connected to the river, began to take shape. The lake gradually deepened, and the area around Niagara-on-the-Lake became a part of Lake Ontario.

During the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago, the area was covered by glaciers. As the glaciers receded, they carved out the Great Lakes and the Niagara River. The Niagara River originally flowed southward from the present-day location of Queenston towards the Niagara Escarpment.