MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 133 



LAKES AND RIVERS. 



Within the count}' small lakes are not numerous. There were formerly a 

 few in the northeastern part, but these were shallow and are now mostly 

 drained. There are two prominent drainage areas, the streams of the one 

 flowing to the north into Lake Huron and those of the other south into Lake 

 St. Clair. The mouths of those flowing into Lake Huron are usually closed 

 during the summer months with sand and gravel washed up by the waves, 

 but in the spring and fall floods they are opened. The Aux Sables River, the 

 largest of the streams, entering the county from the northeast appears to flow 

 continuously, but its present winding course and the large number of aban- 

 doned beds, show conclusively that its flow to Lake Huron has often been 

 obstructed and very materially changed. This river has cut deep into the 

 drift and rock making a narrow wooded flood plain. Along this stream and 

 its small branches, especially near Rock Glen, appear fossil bearing rock 

 exposures which have proved of great interest to geologists. Along its 

 high banks is the finest scenery in Lambton County. In the southeast, 

 streams of considerable size enter the county and have carved out narrow 

 flood plains, formerly well wooded. 



GENERAL SURFACE CONDITIONS. 



The surface of Lambton County is generally low and level, there being 

 very few hills and very little rolling land. In early times it was considered 

 a very wet country, and was heavily wooded and difficult to penetrate. On 

 the north shore of Lake St. Clair bordering on the lower ends of the delta 

 islands, the water for some distance is very shallow, and the adjacent land, 

 recently made, very wet and boggy. Various parts away from shore are 

 prairie-like, usually very wet in spring and fall but very dry and spongy in 

 summer and covered mostly with sedges and grasses. Sandy spots and a 

 very few sand ridges are noticed at the upper ends. In various other parts 

 of the county, tamarack swamps, marshy and boggy places and a few ponds 

 are noticed, but all these have partially disappeared and have been greatly 

 modified in recent years by drainage and fires. 



The delta islands are very interesting. These without doubt were mostly 

 formed by the deposit of material carried down by the river into Lake St. 

 Clair, and it has been estimated that about one fourth of the original lake 

 area has thus been filled up.' 



Along the Lake Huron shore for nearly the whole distance from Point 

 Edward to the northeast limit of the county are sand dunes, usually parallel 

 with the shore, ranging from a few to many feet in height and extending back 

 from a few rods to a mile. For a short distance near Kamlachie and Kettle 

 Point, the latter place famous for its peculiar rock formation, the sand dunes 

 for the most part disappear, and flat and naturally wet land, covered with the 

 prevailing forest of the country, runs down to the shore. These dunes are 

 pure sand and owe their origin exclusively to local conditions and the com- 

 bined action of wind and waves. Thej^ are not so extensive here as on the 

 west coast of Michigan and not very prominent except at and near Port 

 Franks, where a vast amount of sand has l)een piled up and ridge succeeds 

 ridge for about a mile back from shore. Here, in comparison with the 

 surrounding country, they are very striking in appearance and some of 



'See report of Leon J. Cole on "The Delta Islands of St. Clair River." Geological Survey of Mich- 

 igan, Vol. IX, Part 1. 



