Overview
The city of Toronto is predominantly characterized by flat or gently sloping hills, with the land gradually rising away from the lake. However, this flat terrain is interrupted by the Toronto ravine system, which is intersected by numerous creeks and rivers forming the Toronto waterway system. The most notable rivers are the Humber River in the west end and the Don River east of downtown, which define the Toronto Harbour. At the eastern limits of the city, the Rouge River also contributes to the ravine system. Today, most of these ravines and valley lands have been transformed into parklands, with recreational trails running alongside them.
The original town of Toronto was laid out in a grid pattern on the flat plain north of the harbour. As the city expanded, this grid plan was extended outward. Some of the ravines and valleys are wide and deep enough that certain grid streets, such as Finch Avenue, Leslie Street, Lawrence Avenue, and St. Clair Avenue, come to an end on one side of a ravine or valley and continue on the other side. To accommodate this, Toronto has numerous bridges spanning the ravines. Notably, large bridges like the Prince Edward Viaduct were constructed to span wide river valleys.
TORONTO MAPS
Despite the presence of deep ravines, Toronto is not particularly hilly. However, the elevation gradually increases as one moves away from the lake. The difference in elevation ranges from 76.5 meters (251 ft) above sea level at the Lake Ontario shoreline to 209 meters (686 ft) above sea level near the York University grounds in the northern part of the city, specifically at the intersection of Keele Street and Steeles Avenue. While there are occasional hilly areas, midtown Toronto is known for its sharply sloping hills. From the peaks of these ridges, Lake Ontario can still be seen on clear days, extending as far north as Eglinton Avenue, approximately 7 to 8 kilometers (4.3 to 5.0 miles) inland.
Another significant geographical feature of Toronto is its escarpments. These escarpments were formed during the last ice age when the lower part of Toronto was submerged under Glacial Lake Iroquois. Today, these escarpments serve as markers of the lake's former boundary, known as the "Iroquois Shoreline."
Cheap Hotels in Toronto, Canada