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As a sand spit, Long Point is always changing. But, its beauty is everlasting. Located in Southwestern Ontario, Long Point is a 40 km sand spit, which juts out into Lake Erie. A sand spit is a giant sandbar, which constantly changes with the waves. The width of Long Point varies; from very narrow in places to several kilometres. The lake side of the point is entirely sandy beaches while the bay side is marshy. The first few kilometres of the point are inhabited with a number of cottages. After that comes Long Point Provincial Park, then property maintained by the Canadian Wildlife Service. The remainder of the point (most of it) is owned by the Long Point Company, a private hunting club. Connecting Long Point to the mainland is a causeway, which is bordered on both sides by marsh. Much of this marshland is owned by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Long Point is renowned all over the world as a migration stop for birds and waterfowl. The region is home to Bird Studies Canada (BSC), which has its headquarters in nearby Port Rowan. BSC operates the Long Point Bird Observatory, which is dedicated to banding birds in the Spring and fall. Monarch Butterflies are a popular sight in September when they are making their long journey from Canada to Mexico. Since Long Point is continually changing, lighthouses at the end of the point have been hard to keep. Shifting sand and rough storms have already ruined two. Another area, Hastings Drive, used to be the site of a number of cottages until a storm washed many of them out. There is one more lighthouse located at the Old Cut. The cut, a water passage across the point, was created during a violent storm back in 1910 and was used by boats as a shortcut for several years until another storm filled it half in. Long Point is known as the 'graveyard' of the Great Lakes. The sand bars around the point hold hundreds of shipwrecks. Long point is a navigational hazard, particularly in poor weather. In the summer, Long Point attracts everyone from birders to fishermen to beachcombers. Attractions include Long Point Provincial Park, the Long Point Bird Observatory and, of course, the beaches. |
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