[PHOTO] The Elora Quarry
Feb. 8th, 2009 11:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldThe same trip that saw Jerry and me visit the small Ontario community of Fergus also saw us visit the very close (and equally Scottish-sounding) Elora Quarry (official home page here), a beautiful old limestone quarry just metres from the Grand River, that has been converted into a swimming hole.
The gray stone that fills Fergus and so many other small Ontario towns likely came, at least some of it, from here.
This is a shot of the artificial white sand beach built on the neck of limestone that separates the Elora Quarry from the Grand River, and of the quarry's blue waters in the background.
This is a shot of the hole itself taken from one of the limestone cliffs. The waters are blue and cold, and this limestone slope is a natural stopping point for swimmers.
The gorge is located between Fergus and the town of Elora just a short driving distance from the Elora gorge, another great place to visit. There are bathrooms, change rooms and a picnic area located at the beach.
There is a short hiking trail which surrounds the quarry and leads you to some fantastic viewing areas of the beach and quarry itself. The Elora Cataract Trail which consists of 42 km of hiking and biking opportunities is also located just 5 minutes from the park.
Early in the 1900's, a limestone operation began under the name of The Whitestone Lime Company. For years it continued to flourish until the site contained 9 lime kilns, a stone crusher and a railroad siding. Around 1930, the lime became impure when black streaks appeared in the limestone. Shortly thereafter, the company abandoned the quarry and moved to another site. This quarry has been a popular swimming spot for many years, although it did not become a conservation area until 1976.
The gray stone that fills Fergus and so many other small Ontario towns likely came, at least some of it, from here.
This is a shot of the artificial white sand beach built on the neck of limestone that separates the Elora Quarry from the Grand River, and of the quarry's blue waters in the background.
This is a shot of the hole itself taken from one of the limestone cliffs. The waters are blue and cold, and this limestone slope is a natural stopping point for swimmers.
