Discover the 8 Highest Points in Ontario, Both Natural and Man-Made

Stand atop a peak and let your eyes sweep across Ontario’s rugged beauty. This land is rich with lakes and forests, but some points stand out—literally. But the most populous Canadian province isn’t just mountains and escarpments. It’s also a place of human-made heights. So join us on this flight across the best of both superlative worlds, as we explore the heights of Ontario.

Part 1: O’ Ontario and It’s Tallest Natural Peaks

Ontario is home to some of the most majestic peaks in Canada. Elevations beckon hikers, climbers, birds of prey, and the culturally curious. Although you may not find mountainous giants like those in the Rockies, the province’s summits offer their own unique charm. Only a few decades ago, official maps and recognition shifted long-held beliefs about which peak truly kisses the sky.

Ishpatina Ridge, aka The Summit of Ontario

Ishpatina Ridge stands tall at 2,274 feet above sea level. Geologically, it’s a wrinkle on the Canadian Shield, made of Precambrian igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks. The peak’s Ojibwe name, ishpadinaa, means “high place or ridge.” This offers a glimpse into the region’s cultural heritage. What’s even more fascinating? It outshone Maple Mountain as Ontario’s tallest peak only after detailed mapping in the 1970s.

Tower Mountain

Coming in second is Tower Mountain, scaling an elevation of 2,228 feet. Nestled in the Thunder Bay district, this peak doesn’t just offer scenic vistas; it’s a geological storybook. Its rocks house gold mineralization, enveloped in a syenite intrusion—a rock closely related to granite but lacking in quartz. Once an unnamed elevation, the peak now has a name and a spot on modern maps. Old tower remnants on the site also highlight its historical significance.

Ogidaki Mountain

Ogidaki Mountain may be the seventh-highest peak, but it certainly isn’t short on history. Once thought to be Ontario’s highest point at 2,182 feet, it lost that title to Ishpatina Ridge due to updated mapping. While not a popular destination today, its peak once had a fire tower. This marks its key role in the province’s history of forest fire detection.

The Canadian Shield

Running like a geological thread through these peaks is the Canadian Shield. This ancient formation, with its Precambrian rocks, lays the foundational blueprint for many of Ontario’s highest points. Far from being mere geological facts, these rocks narrate the prehistoric stories of the land we now call Ontario.

Of Peaks and People

These landmarks are etched into Ontario’s cultural and historical fabric. Old fire towers attract tourists, while indigenous names add cultural depth. These peaks symbolize the complex bond between humans and nature.

Part II: Man-Made Marvels

In the forthcoming segment, we’ll trade natural rocks for steel beams as we explore Ontario’s tallest man-made structures.

CN Tower: The Sky’s the Limit

The CN Tower in Toronto soars to 553.3 meters or 1,815.3 feet. It’s one of the world’s tallest freestanding structures. Built by the Canadian National Railway, it got its “CN” name from them. Initially, it was a solution to 1960s communication issues caused by rising skyscrapers. While it still aids in downtown Toronto’s telecommunications, it’s also a major tourist attraction now.

Cultural and Historical Importance

The CN Tower holds immense cultural and historical significance. It is a renowned landmark and an iconic symbol of Toronto and Canada. The CN Tower officially opened on June 26, 1976. Since then, it has become a global icon for both Toronto and Canada. It symbolizes a remarkable feat of engineering and has attracted countless visitors from around the world.

The construction of the CN Tower began on February 6, 1973, and involved more than 1,500 workers. Finished in February 1974 and outfitted with its antenna by April 1975, the CN Tower was a Canadian National Railway Company project. Initially privately owned, the tower transitioned to Canadian government ownership in 1995.

Often celebrated for human ingenuity and cutting-edge construction tech, the CN Tower is a marvel of modern design and engineering. Born from the need for a broadcast transmission facility, it has evolved into an internationally recognized Canadian landmark.

The Heights of Reinvigoration

The CN Tower has also played a critical role in the urbanization of Toronto. As the first building to break ground in the railway lands, it drew attention to a neglected part of Toronto. In the years following its opening, several more elements of the original Metro Centre plan fell into place. This included a convention center, a new headquarters for the CBC, Roy Thomson Hall, and the Rogers Centre.

In terms of cultural symbolism, the CN Tower is to Toronto what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, the Statue of Liberty is to New York City, Big Ben is to London, and the Opera House is to Sydney. It is a symbol of Toronto, a symbol of Canada, and a testament to the country’s engineering excellence.

Inco Superstack: Reaching for the Sky

The Inco Superstack, located in Sudbury, Ontario, is the tallest chimney in Canada and the Western Hemisphere, standing at a height of 381 meters (1,250 feet). It’s the second-tallest chimney globally, after Ekibastuz GRES-2 Power Station’s chimney in Kazakhstan. Inco Ltd. constructed the Superstack in 1970, aiming to improve Sudbury’s air quality, which the mining industry had strained. Designed to disperse sulphur gases and other smelting byproducts away from the city, the Superstack significantly contributed to environmental improvements. It achieved this by placing the gases high in the air, where they normally blew right past the city on the prevailing winds.

Connection to Sudbury’s Mining Operations

Brimming with metallic ores, Sudbury’s mining operations churn out a significant amount of ore daily. The Inco Superstack emerged as a response to the mining industry’s severe ecological toll on the area. Following its construction, an environmental reclamation project kicked off, rehabilitating landscapes and selected water bodies to further mend the environment. An ambitious regreening plan has seen over three million new trees planted within the Greater Sudbury area.

The Superstack was also responsible for a significant portion of arsenic, lead, and nickel emissions in North America. However, by 2014, the nickel smelter had reduced its emissions by 85%, rendering the Superstack unnecessary. As a result, two smaller, more energy-efficient chimneys replaced it.

Interesting Facts

For over 40 years, the Inco Superstack has served as a pivotal landmark in Sudbury. Locals and visitors alike often use it as a reference point to orient themselves within the city. Beyond that, the Superstack symbolizes Sudbury’s global prominence in nickel and copper mining.

The Superstack swiftly channels gases from Vale’s Copper Cliff Smelter, with speeds exceeding 52 miles per hour and temperatures soaring up to 734 degrees Fahrenheit. At its base, the structure spans 115 feet in width and has walls that are roughly 3.3 feet thick. As you look up to the top, it narrows to a 52-foot width and walls slim down to about 10 inches. Within its concrete shell, it contains 937 tons of reinforcing steel for added strength, complemented by a 17,585-ton stainless steel liner for long-lasting durability.

Despite its iconic status and historical significance, the Superstack has been decommissioned and is slated for demolition. This has sparked a public debate about the significance, history, and future of the stack. Some residents see it as a memorial to their rise as a center of nickel and copper mining globally, while others see it simply as a familiar landmark that signals they are home.

Toronto-Dominion Centre

Located in downtown Toronto’s Financial District, the Toronto-Dominion Centre, or TD Centre, features five skyscrapers and a pavilion. All are dressed in bronze-tinted glass and black steel. It’s the global headquarters for its main tenant, Toronto-Dominion Bank, but also provides office and retail space for various other businesses. Owned by Cadillac Fairview, the TD Centre brims with around 21,000 office employees. Renowned modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the complex, collaborating with John B. Parkin Associates and Bregman and Hamann Architects. They completed the first phase, which featured the 56-storey Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower, in 1967.

Role in Ontario’s Financial Landscape

Occupying a central spot in Toronto’s financial district, the TD Centre stands as a symbol of Toronto’s rise as a major urban center. Its construction ignited an office boom that reshaped downtown Toronto, forever altering the city’s financial landscape. Still a linchpin in the financial district today, the TD Centre hosts the global headquarters of the Toronto-Dominion Bank and offers office spaces to numerous other enterprises. Beyond its local impact, the TD Centre has garnered recognition for influencing building design across the country.

Interesting Facts

Distinguished by its dark steel and glass structures set against an open plaza, the TD Centre broke sharply with Toronto’s prevailing architectural style of the 1960s. This bold move signaled a significant transformation in the city’s architectural landscape. Equally noteworthy is the Centre’s dedication to sustainability. Setting industry-leading standards, it has continually elevated environmental performance through significant investments. These efforts aim to reduce energy use, water consumption, and landfill waste, thereby affirming the TD Centre’s commitment to a greener future.

Undergoing a $250 million revitalization, the TD Centre has received a substantial capital injection, pivotal for Toronto. For 50 years, these iconic buildings have symbolized Canada’s business leadership. They show how real estate can drive innovation. This investment revamps the property and reinforces its role as a symbol of commercial skill and creativity.

As for cultural significance, the TD Centre enjoys designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, a nod to its importance as a modernist marvel. Adding a musical note to its legacy, TD Centre renamed its courtyard Oscar Peterson Square in 2004, honoring the legendary Canadian jazz composer. This dual recognition underscores the TD Centre’s multifaceted role in shaping both the architectural and cultural tapestry of Ontario.

Aura Skyscraper: Living the High Life

Aura is a mixed-use skyscraper located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Completed in 2014, it stands as the tallest residential building in Canada with 79 floors. Designed by the Canadian firm Graziani Corazza Architects and developed by Canderel Stoneridge Equity Group, the building is a collaboration between architectural expertise and development acumen. Aura is part of the Residences of College Park project and is the final phase of a series of condominium buildings near College Park in Toronto’s Downtown Yonge district.

Role in Toronto’s Architectural and Residential Sectors

Aura has played a significant role in Toronto’s architectural and residential sectors. Its construction marked a significant development in Toronto’s urban living, capturing both the vivacious nature of the city and the citizens’ need for upscale and up-to-date housing. In terms of residential offerings, Aura houses 985 residential units. The building’s design combines environmental elements with modern aesthetics, making it a symbol of innovative architecture.

Interesting Facts and Cultural Impact

Aura has had a significant cultural impact on Toronto’s skyline. Its sleek glass facade and foundation make it a prominent feature in the city’s skyline. Activated roughly a year after its completion, the building’s exterior decorative lighting has dramatically transformed the downtown Toronto skyline.

However, Aura has also been the subject of controversy. The building’s exterior lighting was brighter than anticipated, leading to debates about the scale and brightness of the elements. Additionally, many have described the building’s underground mall as “utterly dead,” with unit owners suing the developers for alleged misrepresentation.

Despite these controversies, Aura remains a symbol of urban living in Toronto. Its location, chic homes, and variety of facilities have made it a prestigious landmark in Toronto’s real estate market. The building prioritizes sustainability. It has low volatile organic compounds (often referred to as VOCs) levels for better air quality and electrical metering for individual energy management. It also features double-glazed, low-emissivity windows for energy efficiency and Energy Star-rated appliances to cut energy use.

Conclusion

Ontario enchants us with a dual landscape, nature’s peaks and human-made towers. Each calls to a different sort of explorer, yet both capture the essence of Ontario’s diverse character. The province’s natural highs, enduring for ages, serve as sanctuaries for outdoor lovers. They offer not just a physical climb but a spiritual ascent into the grandeur of nature. On the flip side, Ontario’s towering structures reflect human ambition, showcasing progress through architectural feats.

So, whether you’re a hiker relishing the earth’s majesty or an urbanite marveling at engineered heights, Ontario delivers. In the end, the peaks of Ontario invite us to transcend the everyday and expand our horizons. And, if we’re lucky, they become points where destination and inspiration are one and the same.