Discover Toronto's Ravines

Anchored by the Don and Humber Rivers and their numerous tributaries, Toronto is blessed with magnificent ravines that provide some of the best Real Estate lots in the city and provide easy access to fitness paths and nature walks. Anyone who has ridden a bike down the Don river has noticed the beautiful and abundant nature not seen elsewhere in the city.

Toronto has many ravine areas on both private and public land. Working in co-operation with agencies such as the Toronto Region Conservation Authority the city enforces ravine protection by-laws and limits development proposals in and adjacent to ravine areas. They also initiate projects, and work with community groups to restore native species and forest cover to areas currently denuded. For more information on ravine areas please call 416-338-TREE (8733).

Did you know that Toronto's landscape was created 10,000 years ago when the last glaciers receded? Over the past 200 years urban development has contributed to many changes in our natural landscape - in some cases, natural valleys were filled and streams were altered or buried. Fortunately, a number of our natural ravines have escaped these dramatic changes.

Some of the trees in Toronto's ravines are now more than 150 years old. They survived the urbanization of Toronto, and are part of our living history. Our urban forest adds beauty to the landscape - it's also a welcome refuge from the hustle and bustle that's part of life in a city. Trees also add new life to the forest ecosystem by anchoring soils on fragile sites, shading young plants at their base, and providing a wide range of habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Ravine living can be a unique and rewarding experience in the city of Toronto but it also comes with unique concerns such as soil erosion and local by-laws. If you are considering a ravine lot, make sure you deal with someone who is fully conversant in these areas.