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GEOLOGICAL
Historyof
MATTAWA AREA This section was intended for teachers who need natural
geological formations within visiting distance with a class
or eager students. Of course others are invited to stay to
get a slightly different view...

Background:

The town of Mattawa is fortunate indeed to have two rivers meet
within it, the Canadian Heritage River, the Mattawa which flows from
Trout Lake at North Bay, through a scenic series of lakes (Talon, Pimisi,
Champlain,) rapids and waterfalls until it joins the mighty Ottawa River
at Mattawa. For pictures and Chantelle's story of the Mattawa River,
Click here.

The Ottawa River has its origin in Lake Temiskaming to the north and
follows a moderately active faultline through a veritable canyon of cliffs
to more level country on its way some four hundred miles past the city of
Ottawa into the St. Lawrence. Moose Rock near Mattawa on the Quebec
side is such a vertical cliff visible from the secondary highway to Thorne.
(When online, paste this address: www.mattaweb.mattawa.on.ca ) click WATERWAY CAMERA for photos and unusual views of Otto Holden Dam.
"Moderately active" faultline? The Town of Temiskaming experiences
tremors with fair frequency. One of 5.2 on the Richter scale in the late
1990's rattled dishes on shelves and made a fine crack in a wall.) It was
reported as far south as Huntsville.
Hydro dams have created a string of scenic lakes all the way to Ottawa.
At the north, there is Lac la Cave, Holden Lake, Lac des Chats, mostly
all large lakes, and all navigable when assisted by lifts over dams.

the
BRENT CRATER Of considerable interest was a prehistoric event, a meteor that made
the BRENT CRATER. I visited it years ago before the trees were
as big...and before the Province started charging admission.

It is a tourist attraction now, but better seen when the trees have no leaves.
A teacher wrote as follows:

I just returned from a northern family camping trip:
Algonquin, Arrowhead, Champlain Parks, even Mattawa
and the Timber Train. Great fun, great weather, nice
and relaxing!

Visited the Brent Crater in northern Algonquin Park-
very interesting from a scientific point of view.

I'm presently reading a book by John McPhee "Annals
of a Former World" - the geological history of North
America...a little dry for some, but I've learned a
lot about geology in the last 2 weeks!

It is a large and very obvious crater, even though trees and vegetation
partially hide it.

To find it, it is off Highway 17 between Mattawa and Deux Rivières,
marked by a small road sign for the turn south. A narrow gravel road,
not very far, it was rather rough when we went in, but it was well worth
the bouncing.
Stairs lead up to a high viewing platform at the side of the road at the top
of a circular hill at its edge, and the crescent lake at its bottom is clearly
seen, even when the trees are in full leaf. For better view, see it when
the leaves have fallen.
It would make a great field trip for a class perhaps willing to hike down
to the bottom, better to appreciate the real size, and perhaps search if
rocks still show the effects of impact. They did have brochures there at
the platform for more information.

For a photo page of the Brent Crater, click here. Updated, it is a Must-See!

GEOLOGICAL Historyof MATTAWA AREA	This section was intended for teachers who need natural geological formations within visiting distance with a class or eager students. Of course others are invited to stay to get a slightly different view... Background:
	The town of Mattawa is fortunate indeed to have two rivers meet within it, the Canadian Heritage River, the Mattawa which flows from Trout Lake at North Bay, through a scenic series of lakes (Talon, Pimisi, Champlain,) rapids and waterfalls until it joins the mighty Ottawa River at Mattawa. For pictures and Chantelle's story of the Mattawa River, Click here. The Ottawa River has its origin in Lake Temiskaming to the north and follows a moderately active faultline through a veritable canyon of cliffs to more level country on its way some four hundred miles past the city of Ottawa into the St. Lawrence. Moose Rock near Mattawa on the Quebec side is such a vertical cliff visible from the secondary highway to Thorne. (When online, paste this address: www.mattaweb.mattawa.on.ca ) click WATERWAY CAMERA for photos and unusual views of Otto Holden Dam. "Moderately active" faultline? The Town of Temiskaming experiences tremors with fair frequency. One of 5.2 on the Richter scale in the late 1990's rattled dishes on shelves and made a fine crack in a wall.) It was reported as far south as Huntsville. Hydro dams have created a string of scenic lakes all the way to Ottawa. At the north, there is Lac la Cave, Holden Lake, Lac des Chats, mostly all large lakes, and all navigable when assisted by lifts over dams.
the BRENT CRATER	Of considerable interest was a prehistoric event, a meteor that made the BRENT CRATER. I visited it years ago before the trees were as big...and before the Province started charging admission.
	It is a tourist attraction now, but better seen when the trees have no leaves. A teacher wrote as follows: I just returned from a northern family camping trip: Algonquin, Arrowhead, Champlain Parks, even Mattawa and the Timber Train. Great fun, great weather, nice and relaxing! Visited the Brent Crater in northern Algonquin Park- very interesting from a scientific point of view. I'm presently reading a book by John McPhee "Annals of a Former World" - the geological history of North America...a little dry for some, but I've learned a lot about geology in the last 2 weeks!
	It is a large and very obvious crater, even though trees and vegetation partially hide it. To find it, it is off Highway 17 between Mattawa and Deux Rivières, marked by a small road sign for the turn south. A narrow gravel road, not very far, it was rather rough when we went in, but it was well worth the bouncing. Stairs lead up to a high viewing platform at the side of the road at the top of a circular hill at its edge, and the crescent lake at its bottom is clearly seen, even when the trees are in full leaf. For better view, see it when the leaves have fallen. It would make a great field trip for a class perhaps willing to hike down to the bottom, better to appreciate the real size, and perhaps search if rocks still show the effects of impact. They did have brochures there at the platform for more information.
	For a photo page of the Brent Crater, click here. Updated, it is a Must-See!