Milton Outlier

Description

The Milton Outlier is a physiographic feature on the Niagara Escarpment, which is an excellent source of high quality Silurian Amabel dolostone. It is a plateau, surrounded by the steep cliffs of the Escarpment to the south, east, and north, and the gentler slopes of the Medad Valley to the west. The Niagara Escarpment is a fossil-rich ridge which is 725 km in length. It is a recognized UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The area includes some of the oldest forest ecosystems in eastern North America and a diverse range of plant and animal species. The outlier had active quarries and lime kilns in the early 1900s. The quarries supplied one million tonnes per year of crushed stone for construction uses for over 40 years until operations ended in 2001.

How it is Formed

Erosion processes at headwaters are responsible for the indentations and irregular appearance of the Escarpment, in particular outliers and segments. The Milton Outlier was separated from the main escarpment by stream erosion.