Port Dalhousie is a neighbourhood of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada on the shores of Lake Ontario. Primarily a place of recreation and good living today, Port Dalhousie has a rich history in the marine world.
Originally, Port Dalhousie was the Lake Ontario terminus of the Welland Canal. The Canal travels from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, by-passing Niagara Falls. The day I took these images, the wind was nasty. The long exposure photography not only blurred the water but the trees, as well.
Port Dalhousie Hydroelectric Plant
Several of the images here are of the weir or dam of the hydroelectric plant. The right side of the weir is infamous for a June 2012 drowning of a 19 year old man. He climbed the fence off the sidewalk of Lakeport Road at 3 in the morning and lost his footing, falling into the visious water below.
The area I’ve set up the tripod in these images is fenced off. However, there at one point the chainlink is peeled back, allowing access.
Port Dalhousie, Ontario
St. Catherines is a city between Hamilton, Ontario and Niagara Falls with a population of 132,000. The metro area has a population near 400,000. Dubbed the Garden City, St. Catherines is just 19 kilometres from the border with New York State and 51 kilometres directly across Lake Ontario from downtown Toronto.
Port Dalhousie was named for George Ramsay, the ninth Earl of Dalhousie. The area has been home to the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta on Martindale Pond for nearly 100 years.
Above is the hydroelectric plant.
This Canada Goose chose a pretty protected spot to nest. She might get bothered by rodents but no humans will threaten.
The historic Outer Range Lighthouse sits at the end of the pier in Port Dalhousie. The Lighthouse was constructed sometime around 1879 and is still functional today. The lighting was automated in 1968.
Lakeside Park Beach
At the start of the pier, there is ample free parking – a rarity at waterfront locations. Lakeside Park Beach is located on the west side of the pier. At the park, a historic carousel is still in operation. The carousel was built in 1905 and brought to St. Catherines in 1921. The price to ride the carousel remains today at five cents per ride.
Check out this short HD Video of the hydroelectric weir at Port Dalhousie, including a closeup of our Canada Goose friend from above. When looking at the video of the water at the base of the dam, imagine what it would be like falling in the pitch black of night. According to reports, the water has a visibility of less than a foot and the basin is littered with debris like cement, logs, fishing line and glass.
Port Dalhousie Video
