Abandoned Shorelines of Vermilion Quadrangle 243 



been. My mapping gives the final position of the Warren waters. 

 Practically the whole circumference of the island shows cliff- 

 cutting; the cliff along the eastern side is continuous southward, 

 and for most of the distance is a bare rock wall; but just as the 

 shore line swings to the east it becomes beach material, consisting 

 of fine gravel and sand. The outer slope of this beach has been 

 steepened in harmony with the cliff north of it. 



Geographic Influence of these Shorelines 



The beaches of these former lakes have been factors in the 

 settlement and development of this area, as well as in its occu- 

 pation by the forerunners of the white man. 



highw^ays 



As elsewhere in northern Ohio, these ridges carry highwaj^s. 

 The proximity of the beaches on the Vermilion sheet accounts 

 for some of the east-west highways being unusually close to- 

 gether. Commencing on the east side of the sheet, each ridge 

 is followed by a road to the Vermilion river. West of the river 

 the Warren shoreline consists almost entirely of a cut cliff; the 

 other two shorelines carry roadbeds except for a few short inter- 

 vals. The advantages of this use of old shorelines are obvious; 

 a gravel pike is already made, insuring fairly good drainage; 

 furthermore, the same conditions are of advantage to man in 

 locating his dwellings. 



agriculture 



Wherever specialized agriculture is in vogue, the influence of 

 these former lake levels on farming is more obvious. This con- 

 dition, however, does not arise early in the development of an 

 area; proximity to large cities leads to intensified farming. No 

 large cities are very near the Vermilion sheet. The only con- 

 spicuous response is fruit growing; hundreds of acres of sandy 

 soil, both the old ridges and their terraces and the adjacent in- 

 land areas over which wind has drifted sand, are being devoted 

 to peach orchards. In recent years some progress has been made 

 in truck farming; this is a response to the two electric lines that 



