The Onondaga Escarpment

The Wainfleet Bog is located on the Onondaga Escarpment. The Onondaga formation is predominantly composed of Paleozoic limestone which contains varying quantities of fossils. These fossils can be easily viewed on one of the many trails that surrond the quarry lakes.

Aproximately 10,000 years ago the entire area was a shallow marshland. As the area warmed and eventually began to dry out vegetaion began to grow. Due to the underlying saturated conditions the bog remains an acidic environment with low nutrients. The result is a domed bog with unique plants able to withstand the acidic and low nutrient site conditions.