Canada/Ontario: Quimet Canyon Provincial Park

Not far from the Eagle Canyon is the spectacular and massive Quimet Canyon. The canyon walls have impressive geological features, including a deep, wide gorge that stretches for about 2 km (1.2 mi) and plunges 100 m (330 feet) to the canyon floor. Ouimet Canyon was formed by the action of glaciers and water erosion over millions of years. The canyon walls display a variety of rock types, including ancient Precambrian rocks that are approximately 1.1 billion years old, some of the oldest rocks in North America. The depth and narrowness of the canyon create a unique microclimate at the bottom, where conditions resemble those found in arctic regions. This allows for the growth of rare arctic-alpine plants, such as alpine bistort, arctic bellflower, and fir clubmoss, which are not typically found this far south.