The Road to Sudbury
Meteor Capital of the World -- 2 Billion Years of History

Sudbury - Ontario - Weather
 

 



Images of Sudbury a Miriah Media Design
 



A Miriah Media Production

  >>>    >>>>
  Sudbury Basin  (Sudbury Meteor)
  Location:                                   Sudbury - Ontario - Canada
  Meteor's name:                          Miriah
  Meteor size:                               14 x 9 miles ( super class meteor )
  Date of hit:                                2 billion years ago
  Crater size:                                300 miles in diameter  
  Crater depth:                             25 miles ( imploded within minutes )
  Crater size today:                      40 x 20 miles
  Crater depth today:                   broad valley (only visible by aerial radar imagery)
  Most distinguishing feature:       

       The Sudbury Basin is the richest and largest integrated mining complex in the
   world. There are numerous mines nestled along the ancient hills, that make up the
  crater rim. The deepest operating mine in the western hemisphere is located here,
  at 1.5 miles deep. The Basin has been pegged as a two trillion dollar asset. Yet,
  for all this talk about mines and craters, Sudbury and its surrounding landscape
  are a crown jewel nestled in the beautiful forests, rivers and lakes of the
  pre-Cambrian Shield.
       Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Nickel Mines were the two companies involved in
  mining the Sudbury Basin, since day one. In the autumn of 2006, Xstrata a
  diversified mining group with headquarters in Switzerland took over 100 percent
  ownership of Falconbridge. In that same time period CVRD of Brazil took over
  control of Inco.

  As Sudbury enters 2007, we wish both new owners the very best in the years ahead.
 



Headframe of Falconbridge 's
Nickel Rim Mine.

  >>>    >>>>
  Lake Wanapitei  (Wanapitei Meteor)
  Location:                                  20 miles northeast of downtown Sudbury
  Meteor name:                           Ali  ( Miriah's sister )
  Meteor size:                              1/2 mile in diameter
  Date of hit:                               38 million years ago
  Crater size:                               4 miles in diameter
  Crate depth:                             1 mile
  Crater size today:                     5 to 6 miles in diameter ( sides eroded over time )
  Crate depth today:                   1 mile  ( estimated )
  Most distinguishing feature:       

       The lake is considered bottomless because, moderntechnology has not been able
  to confirm its depth. Lake Wanapitei  has a gravitational anomaly below it surface,
  which attracted the attention of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. He made plans
  to explore the depths of this lake, but died before the expedition could be started.
 



Aerial view of Lake Wanapitei
looking south.
   >>>    >>>>
  Hardy Boys series of books
 
  Location:     Sudbury's Lake Ramsey
  Author:  Leslie McFarlane    Wrote Under the Pen Name:    Franklin W. Dixon
  
  Most Distinguishing Feature:   
 
        In 1927 Leslie McFarlane was hired as a freelance writer, by the Stratemeyer
   Syndicate, to write three books based on plots they supplied. The three books
   were called breeder volumes and they would be published as a group. If these
  books received buyer support, then more volumes would follow. The plots they
  gave McFarlane were simple. The books would chronicle the adventures of
  two teenage detectives, Frank and Joe Hardy. The boys would solve mysteries
  at home and abroad with humor and smarts.
       McFarland decided to return to a small cabin, located on Lake Ramsey, just
  outside of Sudbury, Ontario. Years earlier, he had used the peace and tranquility
  of this cabin, for inspiration in writing other books. Within weeks, McFarlane had
  the three books completed. The Stratemeyer Syndicate approved them, they went
  to press and the rest is history. The titles of these three volumes were "The
  Tower Treasure", "The House on the Cliff" and "The Secret of the Old Mill."
  McFarlane wrote these books under the pen name F. W. Dixon. The three books
  blazed the trail for the other volumes that followed.
  In that small cabin just outside of Sudbury, McFarlane shaped the characters of the
  Hardy Boys. His writing style was electrifying and these books would become one
  of the best selling series in the world, racking up sales in the millions. After 80
  years, these books still capture the imagination of our young people.
  In retrospect, Sudbury was the birth place for the Hardy Boys series of books.

  Epilog:                                      
        Leslie McFarlane in future years would go on to become a script writer for
    the television series Bonanza under the name F.W. Dixon. 
 




Lake Ramsey Sudbury


Bonanza TV Series
   >>>    >>>>
   Sudbury Blueberry Capital of Ontario
   Location:                                  Sudbury Basin

   Most Distinguishing Feature:     

        The Sudbury Basin by natural evolution was not a hot spot for blueberries.
    So the question is what happened? The answer is Inco and Falconbridge, the
    giant mining companies located in Sudbury. In the early years, sulphur was
    released into the air in vast amounts, through the ore smelting process. Rain
    mixed with the sulphur and fell as acid rain. This combination was deadly to
    lakes, forests and plant life. However, blueberry plants thrive in high acidic soil
    and the acid rain process led to these plants, taking over the Sudbury Basin. The
    plants started spreading in the early 20th century and by the 1930s, the basin
    was a hot spot for these berries.  
 
   However, Sudbury's status of being the Blueberry Capital of Ontario, could be in
   jeopardy. The acid rain led to the Sudbury landscape becoming bare, because the
   trees and vegetation died. In the mid 1970s, Inco built a super stack that removed
   about 90 percent of the sulphur going up the stack and within a few years, the soil
   and the lakes were coming back to life. Inco and the City of Sudbury, then went
   on a reforestation project and today the Sudbury landscape is returning to being a
   forest again. When the forest returns, the blueberry plants are pushed out. There
   are still vast areas of these plants around, but each year there numbers dwindle.
   The Sudbury Basin is rich in organic soil, because of the meteor and this led to
   the blueberries growing there, to be among the tastiest found in the world. Each
   summer, the demand for Sudbury blueberries is strong especially in southern
   Ontario.
   The Sudbury land reclamation timeline can be viewed here.
   During the summer months of July and August, roadside vendors selling
   blueberries can be found on all major highways, leading out of Sudbury. The
   berries can also be purchased from fruit stands within the city. However, a word
   of caution, as some vendors try to sell the berries at very inflated prices. Your best
   deal usually comes,if you can locate berry pickers coming out of the bush, who pick
   and sell to area wholesalers. These people are the backbone of Sudbury's blueberry
   industry and most would welcome selling direct to the end user. As a price guide, a
   four litre or four quart level basket of blueberries should retail for about $30 to $35
   Canadian.
 

The Sudbury Blueberry Bear



 
   >>>    >>>>
   The song "Sudbury Saturday Night"
   Location:                                    Sudbury, Ontario

   Most Distinguishing Feature:       
        Inco, the giant Sudbury mining company, certainly has a special relationship
   with the the residents of Sudbury. Canadian folk singer Stompin Tom Connors,
   wrote the international hit Sudbury Saturday Night. This was a first in music
   history, where a song has propelled its artist to stardom and immortalized a
   company (Inco) and city (Sudbury).  Watch the Video. 

   >>>    >>>>
   Sudbury, Ontario:  The Birthplace of Earth History
   Location:                                    Sudbury, Ontario

   Most Distinguishing Feature:   
         From a time in the distant past, long before the dinosaurs and back before time
    itself, Earth had a visitor. This visitor came from a distant land, looking for a new
    home and a new beginning. Today, over two billion years later, the remnants of her
    encounter with our planet, can still be seen in Sudbury.
         Her encounter with our planet was not by chance. She was sent by a civilization
    that had technology, so far beyond our understanding that even today they remain
    silent. However, their silence is only as we perceive it, for they have been interacting
    with Earth for two billion years. In 1992, a major discovery concealed in the ancient
    rocks of the Sudbury Basin has led to the writing of a book titled, "2 Billion Years
    Ago, A Heavily Armed Warship Went Into Earth Orbit."
         This book is about the historical legacy of the Sudbury Basin. It is an exciting
    and riveting story based on true events. This book will challenge the bible. The
    book's release date is in the second half of 2008.


 

 

On that fateful day over two billion
years ago, a fast closing super class
meteor was seconds away from
sealing our planet's history.

Local Websites

        City of Greater Sudbury                        Science North
                                         Falconbridge Nickel Mines
         New Sudbury Centre                                  Imax
  Sudbury Neutrino Observatory             Laurentian University
              Cambrian College                              College Boreal
      Northern Ontario School of Medicine              Rainbow Country Travel Association
               Sudbury Trail Plan                                Trans Canada Trail   
                 Dynamic Earth                                         
                    

Must see Attractions in and Around Sudbury

   A.Y. Jackson Lookout
   The lookout is 28 miles northwest of Sudbury, on Hwy 144, just north of Dowling.
   The site overlooks High Falls, a waterfall on the Onaping River that drops 150 feet
   down through the ancient rocks, of the crater rim and into the Sudbury Basin.
   Jackson, one of Canada's famed Group of Seven painters, that painted the rugged
   north, painted this stunning waterfall. The rocks in this area are no less than
   3.5 billion years old. Get down close to the river and the rocks, go for a hike on the
   trail.

   Dynamic Earth  122 Big Nickel Rd
   Dynamic Earth, invites you inside the planet, to explore the mighty forces of nature
   and the history of mining. The 18000 sq. ft. earth sciences centre, combines both
   above and below ground experiences.
    Science North Science Centre  100 Ramsey Lk. Rd.
   This world class science centre, has several levels full of science education and
   family fun. Also featuring an IMAX Theatre, Virtual Voyages Motion Simulator
   Ride, the Butterfly Gallery and the 4D bush plane adventure, Wings Over the
   North. 

   French River 
   This river is one of the most famous waterways in North America. It has a
   colorful past and is steeped in history. There are a number of areas to access this
   river, but the easiest way to see it, without driving out of your way is the bridge
   that spans it on Hwy 69, forty miles south of Sudbury. Today, the French River
   flows west from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, but 12,000 years ago, the river
   according to science flowed in the opposite direction. Read more about the
   French River and its history.

    Killarney Provincial Park
    This Ontario park is located southeast of Sudbury. To reach it, drive 24 miles
   south of Sudbury, on Hwy 69 to the junction of Hwy 637. Then drive in about 45
   minutes to the park. This park is the crown jewel of the Ontario parks. However,
   it has laid claim to being one of the most beautiful parks in North America.  Read 
   history about the park and see some pictures.

 



Fact
If you were to put all the tunnels
end to end that are underground in
the Sudbury Basin they would
stretch from Montreal
to Vancouver.  
 
 Fact
 The financial business world
has calculated  the Sudbury
Basin as a trillion dollar asset





 
    Sudbury Basin
    May 25, 2.1 billion B.C. will live in infamy in Earth history, as the all
   time worst day. It was on this day, the meteor Miriah, slammed into
   what would become North America, in a location that would
   eventually be known as Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. In terms of
   catastrophic geology, Sudbury is one of the natural wonders of the
   world. The Sudbury Basin is the remains of the oldest and largest
   impact crater on our planet.
   Miriah was a 14 by 9 mile meteor, that hit the planet at 91,000 mph.
   She vaporized millions of tons of rock, carving out a crater 300
   miles in diameter and 25 miles deep, that would have imploded on
   itself within minutes. Today, the Sudbury Basin is a 40 by 20 mile
   wide oval valley, which can only be detected using aerial radar
   imagery. Sudbury and its surrounding area has rocks, which are 
   some of the oldest in North America.
   If your going to explore the crater rim up close, Hwy 144 at
   Onaping Falls is the best place to begin. The Onaping River drops
   150 feet through ancient rocks, which make up the rim. Forest
   covers the ancient hills in many places and numerous clear blue
   lakes dot the region. There is a public parking area near the falls,
   with picnic tables and an information centre. You can follow the
   trail a short distance and come out to an overlook platform, where
   you will get an excellent view of the Onaping River and the falls.
   The trail continues coming out at the river, letting you explore the
   multi-level falls and the various rock formations on the shoreline.
   If you desire,  you can continue on the trail which will take you
   above the falls, where a bridge will allow you to cross the river and
   continue  exploring.  If your into camping, just a few miles  north
   of this location is Half Way Lake Provincial Park, another good
   location for exploring.

    Meteors were not finished with Sudbury. Approximately 38 million
   years ago, a half mile diameter meteor hit the northern rim of the
   first meteor and carved out a four mile diameter crater, which
   today is known as Lake Wanapitei. The lake's depth is thought to
   be about one mile deep, but that estimate remains unconfirmed,
   because modern technology can't measure it. The lake has a very
   unusual gravitational anomaly below it surface, which over the years
   has fueled some strange stories being told. The lake has it's own
   personality and can literally go from being calm to violently rough,
   in a matter of minutes. Several people over the years have lost
   their live because of this phenomenon.


Shatter cones, like the ones in this picture above from a site in
Sudbury, Ontario, offer compelling evidence that a large object
impacted Earth. These fractures which are cone shaped form
only when strong shock waves pass through rock as represented
by a nuclear explosion or meteor impact. The coin is in the photo
to show scale.
 

The above sample is copper ore which is made up of
copper and iron sulfide. Because of its yellow
appearance it is often mistaken for gold; thus
it is referred to as fools gold.



Aerial picture of the Sudbury Basin
as seen on Google Earth

  

Sudbury Basin using aerial
radar imagery

 
   Map of the Sudbury Basin. The red squares
represent mines which are located
along the crater rim.


Slag being poured at Sudbury, Ontario


Inco Smelter in Sudbury. This industrial complex
is worth well over a billion dollars. Inco's
Super Stack dominates the Sudbury skyline.
 

   

   Sudbury Meteor Park
  Featuring:                                  Crater with a meteor protruding out of it.
                                                    See concept picture on the right.
   Location:                                  High visibility location
   Most Distinguishing Feature:     

        The city of Sudbury, the surrounding communities, the business sector
   and the people that make Sudbury their home, would not exist, if it wasn't for
   the meteor that hit there and formed the Sudbury Basin.
        The meteor that hit the Sudbury Basin 2.1 billion years ago, could very
   well rank as the most important event, that has happened on our planet. This
   meteor's name was Miriah and although there was no one around to witness or
   document her arrival, she came to earth, with a force so great it reshaped our
   planet.
        It would take millions of years, before the earth could shake off the
   devastating effects of this meteor. However, Miriah was a blessing in disguise.
   Our planet not only survived but it prospered.
        Change is sometimes good and eventually our Earth would be reborn. The
   sun would shine again with a renewed intensity, that would propel climatic
   changes. The door was now open and life in the form of plants and fish would
   start to evolve. Eventually, insects and reptiles would appear. Then the
   dinosaurs, the masters of the earth, would roam for one hundred and fifty
   million years. In the end, man would evolve and through his understanding and
   persistence would come to know the journey that Miriah made, to reach our
   planet and the enormous influence she had.
        Miriah is a distant memory of a lost era, but her legacy should not be
   forgotten, as the lasting effects she had on our world are still visible today.
   The signature she left us is today known as the Sudbury Basin and it is the
   richest area ever found on our planet, for deposits of nickel, copper and many
   other minerals.
        Many countries pay tribute to natural and man made formations. Sudbury
   is built on the greatest formation of them all, yet the city does not have a
   monument to honor the event.

  Meteor Monument Page

   Fact: The meteor that hit the Sudbury Basin is estimated to have been traveling
           at 91,000 mph when it impacted. The force hurled rocks out to a distance
           of 1000 miles.
   

 


This is a concept picture of a a
possible future meteor monument.
It is shown here on a parcel of land,
on the southwest bypass near Hwy
69 south. The meteor is sitting at an
angle and is 2800 feet in the air. The
crater is 50 feet deep.
 This site is the agency for a future
meteor tourist attraction in Sudbury.
We welcome your suggestions and
any help you can offer. If you would
like to be a corporate or private
sponsor please contact us.


A recreation of the moment the Sudbury
meteor hit ground zero. The intensity of
of the light would have been visible
across North America. 

    Sudbury in The News

   Takeovers of Inco & Falco
    Canadian prime minister turns his back, Sudbury Basin under foreign ownership.
    Sudbury Basin is a crater of gold
   Old Photos of Sudbury & Area
 


Concept picture of a meteor monument
in relation to a 12 story building

 


 

    high tech mining
    space research
    looking through cosmic windows to other parts of the galaxy
    intergalactic highway