Easter Friday is our first physical geography day at Urban Toronto. And you thought you got a day off from studies.
So, come sit on the pub stool beside me and I'll get just a tidge too close and give you today's lesson:
Below is the Don River. We're looking north west from the Gerrard street bridge. The green bridge yonder connects west and east Riverdale parks. Note the area in the distance where the yellow arrow is pointing - west Riverdale park. We'll walk over there in a moment.
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The Don River here is nice and straight isn't it? It used to meander to and fro. It wasn't straightened so you could have a nice fast drive on the DVP; that was a later unintended benefit. It was straightened to aid industrial development in the early portlands.
If you look at UT-er "plink"s 1888 and 1890 maps at this link:
http://skritch.blogspot.ca/2012/04/goads-atlas-of-toronto-online.html
You'll see the before and after of the straightening.
Still with me?
Let's walk over to west Riverdale park. Look below, where my yellow arrow is pointing. It's a pond. That is actually the meander cut off as a result of the straightening. To use geography terminology I suppose you could call it an "oxbow." We are looking northeast.
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You can also see this oxbow branch of the Don River from inside Riverdale Farm park. There's not much to see but your legs and heart will thank you for the workout. Don't go in high summer. The mosquitos down there are UFC trained.
See the 1888 map below for an 'aerial view'. I have circled in yellow the approximate area of the present oxbow.
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It's ok, don't mention it.