Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve, 3924 Southwood Road, Torrance, Muskoka Lakes, ON

Excerpt from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrance_Barrens:

The Torrance Barrens (officially Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve) is a conservation area and dark-sky preserve in the District Municipality of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. The reserve consists of Crown Lands in the municipalities of Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes. It is notable as the first dark-sky preserve in Canada and for its geological and environmental features.

In 1870, the Musquash Colonization Road was built, connecting Gravenhurst to Musquash Falls (now Bala). This road was the first in the area and some segments are still in use. However, the portion that bisects through the reserve is no longer in use and is a separate nature reserve, the 195 acres (79 ha) Musquash Road Nature Reserve.

In 1992, its significant natural values were identified, and additional studies described the aesthetic and recreational importance. In 1995, the Ministry of Natural Resources proposed to protect the area and public consultations began.

The reserve was established in June 1997 under Ontario Regulation 259/97, and as a result of its favourable conditions for astronomy viewing, it was recognized as a permanent dark-sky preserve in 1999, the first in Canada.

The reserve straddles the edges of the Moon River Domain (Parry Sound Terrane) and the Go Home Domain (Algonquin Terrane), structural subdivisions of the Grenville province of the Grenville orogeny. It is characterized by low elongated ridges of Precambrian bedrock with little topsoil and scattered boulders. The ridges are granitic gneisses and migmatites of varied origins, separated by wetland, ponds, and peat-filled hollows.

The geology represents the Grenville Province continental accretion theme and is therefore locally significant.

While the Torrance Barrens are part of an intermittent band of granite barrens stretching from Eastern Ontario to Georgian Bay, it is rare this far south in Ontario, and therefore the environment and flora of the reserve are unique and distinct in its location.

The location and topography make the Torrance Barrens a suitable location for night-time sky viewing opportunities. There is no light pollution of nearby cities, and the reserve is mostly surrounded by undeveloped private lands and other parks, allowing it to retain the natural darkness of the night. Because of its barren bedrock, telescopes and cameras can be stationed on a solid base, immune to vibrations. Furthermore, the natural open spaces and lack of surrounding high hills provide an unobstructed panorama of the sky and horizon.

Owing to these favourable conditions, the Andromeda Galaxy is visible with the naked eye from the Torrance Barrens, and with a simple telescope, the cloud bands of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn can be seen.

Taken in: Canada / Ontario / Glen Echo (show map)

Taken on: May 8, 2023

Tags:

Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve

3924 Southwood Road

Muskoka Lakes

Ontario

Canada

Muskoka

Conservation Areas

Conservation Areas Torrance

Conservation Areas Muskoka

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Sets appears in: • Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve, Muskoka, ON

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Camera: Nikon D5200, 48mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D5200
Focal Length:	48mm
ISO:	200
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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