The formation of the Niagara Escarpment began 430 to 450 million years ago.  At this time, the area lay under a shallow warm sea.  This sea lay in the depression of the earth’s crust, the centre of which is now the State of Michigan.  Glaciers and water shaped the rock, creating features like caves, cliffs, waterfalls and eroded shorelines.  The outer rim of this massive saucer-shaped feature, now known as the Michigan Basin, governs the location of the Niagara Escarpment. The Niagara Escarpment is recognized as one of the world’s natural wonders and has been designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Biosphere Reserve for its special environment and unique environmental plan. The Niagara Escarpment stretches across 725 kilometres, from Queenston on the Niagara River to Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula.