Tobermory, Ontario

Tobermory is a small community located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula in the municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula. It is 300 kilometres (190 miles) northwest of Toronto. The closest city to Tobermory is Owen Sound, 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of Tobermory and connected by Highway 6. Due to similar harbour conditions it was named after Tobermory (/ˌtoʊbərˈmɔːri/; Scottish Gaelic: Tobar Mhoire), the largest settlement in the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides.

Tobermory
Community
Little Tub Harbour
Etymology: Named after Tobermory in Scotland
Tobermory
Tobermory located in southern Ontario
Coordinates: 45°15′N 81°40′W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
CountyBruce County
MunicipalityNorthern Bruce Peninsula
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)519
Websitetobermory.com

The community is known as the "fresh water SCUBA diving capital of the world"[1] because of the numerous shipwrecks that lie in the surrounding waters, especially in Fathom Five National Marine Park. Tobermory and the surrounding area are popular vacation destinations. The town lies north of the Bruce Peninsula National Park.

The MS Chi-Cheemaun passenger-car ferry connects Tobermory to Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron. Tobermory is also the northern terminus of the Bruce Trail, and has twin harbours, known locally as "Big Tub" and "Little Tub". Big Tub Harbour is Canada's largest natural freshwater harbour.[2]

Tobermory is typically a few degrees colder than Toronto. Most of the businesses in the town are open from May until the Thanksgiving long weekend in October, and are closed for the other seven months of the year.

Geography

The Government of Ontario has erected a plaque in Tobermory about the geography of the area.[3] The first, at the tip of the peninsula, titled ESCARPMENT SUBMERGENCE, provides this information: "This shoreline marks the northern extremity of the Niagara Escarpment in southern Ontario. Stretching unbroken for 465 miles across southern Ontario from Niagara Falls. The escarpment was created by erosion of layered sedimentary rocks deposited in ancient seas of the Paleozoic Era over 400 million years ago. Portions of the escarpment form the islands between Tobermory and South Baymouth and the same Paleozolic rocks shape the geology of Manitoulin Island."

Climate

Tobermory has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb) with four distinct seasons. Summers are mild to warm and winters are cold. Precipitation is well distributed year round.[4]

Climate data for Tobermory (1951–1980)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.7
(53.1)		 11.1
(52.0)		 20.0
(68.0)		 26.7
(80.1)		 30.0
(86.0)		 35.6
(96.1)		 36.1
(97.0)		 33.3
(91.9)		 33.3
(91.9)		 25.6
(78.1)		 18.9
(66.0)		 16.1
(61.0)		 36.1
(97.0)
Average high °C (°F) −2.8
(27.0)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 1.3
(34.3)		 8.2
(46.8)		 14.1
(57.4)		 19.4
(66.9)		 22.5
(72.5)		 22.2
(72.0)		 18.1
(64.6)		 12.5
(54.5)		 6.1
(43.0)		 0.1
(32.2)		 9.9
(49.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.3
(20.7)		 −6.9
(19.6)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 3.9
(39.0)		 9.0
(48.2)		 14.2
(57.6)		 17.9
(64.2)		 18.0
(64.4)		 14.1
(57.4)		 8.9
(48.0)		 3.2
(37.8)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 5.9
(42.6)
Average low °C (°F) −9.9
(14.2)		 −10.9
(12.4)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 3.9
(39.0)		 8.9
(48.0)		 13.2
(55.8)		 13.7
(56.7)		 10.0
(50.0)		 5.3
(41.5)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −6.3
(20.7)		 1.8
(35.2)
Record low °C (°F) −30.6
(−23.1)		 −33.9
(−29.0)		 −27.2
(−17.0)		 −15.0
(5.0)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 1.7
(35.1)		 3.0
(37.4)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −17.2
(1.0)		 −27.8
(−18.0)		 −33.9
(−29.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 71.9
(2.83)		 46.9
(1.85)		 51.6
(2.03)		 66.3
(2.61)		 54.8
(2.16)		 69.1
(2.72)		 62.8
(2.47)		 73.8
(2.91)		 79.8
(3.14)		 70.5
(2.78)		 75.6
(2.98)		 85.4
(3.36)		 808.5
(31.83)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 12.6
(0.50)		 14.0
(0.55)		 28.6
(1.13)		 66.1
(2.60)		 54.7
(2.15)		 69.1
(2.72)		 62.8
(2.47)		 74.1
(2.92)		 79.8
(3.14)		 70.0
(2.76)		 61.5
(2.42)		 36.6
(1.44)		 629.9
(24.80)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 58.0
(22.8)		 33.0
(13.0)		 22.6
(8.9)		 2.7
(1.1)		 0.1
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.4
(0.2)		 14.1
(5.6)		 49.9
(19.6)		 180.8
(71.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10 8 7 7 7 8 6 7 9 9 9 12 99
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 2 1 3 6 7 8 6 7 9 9 7 4 69
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 9 7 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 31
Source: Environment Canada[5][6]

Flora and fauna

Tobermory is home to many different species of plants and animals. Some of the more commonly sighted animals include black bears, raccoons, white-tailed deer, porcupines, chipmunks and a variety of snakes. The Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake can also be found in Tobermory although it is now an endangered species.

Among the many types of plants found in the area, there are around 43 species of wild orchids on the Bruce Peninsula due to its variety of habitats. To celebrate, Tobermory hosts an annual orchid festival in June which includes guided tours and presentations.

At least one species of flower is found growing in Big Tub and no place else in the world.

Attractions
MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry docking in Tobermory

Fathom Five National Marine Park

Tobermory is located next to Fathom Five National Marine Park, Canada's first national marine conservation area. The park includes 22 shipwrecks, several historic lighthouses, and glass-bottom cruises from Tobermory.

The science fiction novel Commitment Hour by James Alan Gardner is set in Tober Cove, a post-apocalyptic version of Tobermory.

James Reaney's poem "Near Tobermory, Ontario" describes a cove near the town.

See also

References
  1. Wilkins, Jennifer. "Tobermory: The Freshwater Capital of the World". Dive News Network. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  2. "Tobermory Crusader". Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. Cook, Wayne (2013). "Historical Plaques of Bruce County". Wayne Cook. Wayne Cook. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. "Tobermory climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Tobermory weather averages - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  5. "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 2: Temperature". Environment Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  6. "Canadian Climate Normals 1951–1980 Volume 3: Precipitation". Environment Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
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