While the DEM for lake Ontario (derived using point format bathymetric data) is of a lower resolution than the DEM for the land areas (derived using predominately contour format data), large scale regional features can be recognized on the lake bottom. The bathymetric field sheet data for lake Ontario was a contribution of the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW). The DEM for lake Ontario was compiled from two different scale data sets, sixteen 1:25,000 scale maps for coastal areas (1) and two 1:200,000 scale regional maps for the remaining areas of the lake (2). The integration of these data resulted in an uneven resolution across the lake bottom. The Lake Ontario shoreline is the continuous blue line (3). Of note in this image is a linear feature trending northeast to southwest (4). Within Lake Ontario surficial sediment cover is generally thin over large areas and this feature may be a bedrock escarpment.

Further Reading

Lewis, C.F.M. 1997: Seismostratigraphy of western Lake Ontario: Quaternary geology and implications for groundwater discharge; in Abstract volume, Ottawa '97, GAC/MAC Annual Meeting, May 19-21, 1997, p. A-89.

Thomas, R.L., McMillan, R.K., Bowlby, J.R., Lewis, C.F.M., McFall, G.H. and Wallach, J.L., 1991: Neotectonics of Eastern North America, The Great Lakes Basin; Field Trip B. 8, Guide book 46 p., Toronto '91, GAC/MAC Annual Meeting, May 30-June 2, 1991.