NIAGARA FALLS AND VICINITY 



6l 



infrequently masses of sand and pebbles are cemented into a con- 

 glomerate by calcite or other cementing agents. 



The terminal portion of the beach at the Lewiston station is 

 rather exceptional. It has here the character of a sand spit, extend- 

 ing toward the Niagara river. Between this spit and the escarp- 

 ment there is a low area of irregular outline, something over half a 

 mile in width along the river and extending perhaps three fourths of 

 a mile eastward from it. This area is bounded by steep erosion 

 cliffs of unconsolidated material, and is from 30 to 50 or more 

 feet lower than the level of the ridge road. The suggestion presents 

 itself, that these features may be due to the current of the Niagara 

 at its embouchure into Lake Iroquois, at a time when the falls were 

 probably not far distant. (See plate 3 and map) 



There is evidence that the level of Lake Ontario at one time stood 

 much lower than it does at present; for the bottom of the lower 

 Niagara, from Lewiston to the lake, is from 100 to 200 feet below 



Fig. 11 Gilbert's map of the Great lakes at the time of the Trent river outlet. Modern hydro- 

 graphy dotted. 



the present water level. In fact, the old beaches about Lake On- 

 tario indicate a number of oscillations of level, similar to those 

 recorded in the other glacial lakes, and due chiefly to crust 

 warpings. 



