The river holds a lot of history.
Some of it has flowed downstream with the currents and moved on to the sea but some of its oldest history is still here. And when the water is low you can find one of the most striking features visible along the Ottawa River shoreline: The stromatolites on the Quebec side of the river. They have been scraped down by glaciers and eroded by time but the ancient stromatolite bed remnants are still remarkably beautiful and visible.
The seaweed growth on the rock above shows that the stromatolite formations are often covered by water.
These stromatolites are over 450 million years old and were formed during the Paleozoic period when this area was located near the equator and was covered in a warm shallow sea. The stromatolites are built up in layers by cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, and are accretionary structures rather than body fossils.
This cross-section above, of a dislodged and abraded stromatolite shows the many thin biofilm layers that are built up by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
Nearby fossil-rich rocks – which are slowly being eroded by the current – exposing various fossil snails.
The Champlain Bridge linking Ontario and Quebec; a striking contrast between the modern and the ancient world.
Related links and references:
Mapping the Shoreline 1
Ottawa River Keeper
Wikipedia:Pangaea
Wikipedia:Stromatolites
All images © Karen McRae, 2012
draw and shoot 
Fascinating images. Beautiful.
Thank you, Chillbrook.
What an interesting post Karen.. I had never heard of stromatolites before and definitely have never see such a thing.. I had imagined they should be lovely colours but I guess not as I’m sure you woulddn’t use B&W if they were 🙂
They are cool, aren’t they? I’m glad you find it interesting.
Helen, I added a colour image for reference but what I like about the black and white is how it emphasizes form.
Ahhhh but I do love the colour too 🙂
Fascinating, just fascinating.
When the time scale was gone beyond of our imagination
it goes into philosophical or spiritual level, of which
your photography is specialized.
It’s hard to imagine 450 million years, isn’t it?
I’m fascinated by them also. Thank you, Yoshizen.
I want to use the word fascinating, although previous commenters already have. Yes, that’s the word. I’ve never seen anything like this before.
They are remarkable remnants and I agree; fascinating. Thanks for your comment, Elena.
Amazing! I’d never heard the word stromatolite before! The textures and juxtaposition of pattern really engage the viewer.
I suppose it’s not a common word and these are unusual formations. I’m glad you found it interesting. Thank you!
Very beautiful patterns!
Nature is full of interesting patterns. Thank you, Mimo.
Really unusual. Funny, it seems like rocks should be so serious, but those ones with seaweed look like walruses with whiskers or somesuch and make me smile. They look oddly old and wise. I am now quietly suspecting I may have just eaten too many sweet things at lunch 🙂
Trish, I like the way you read things into this! 🙂
Sweets at lunch is a good idea – I do have some brownies upstairs…
I neither knew about nor saw these formations before. I’m glad you introduced it.
I’m glad you find this interesting, thank you!
Reblogged this on Iris Pinson.
You really capture the essence of place with your photos. The world’s oldest life form, extraordinary antiquity. Amazing too that the stromatolites in Western Australia are not only preserved but still growing.
I guess I should have mentioned that in my post. I would love to see the ones in Australia!
Thank you.
Fantastic patterns and textures – another thought provoking post ! Many thanks for sharing another very interesting aspect of your coastline with us !
Hi Chris, thanks for the great comment!
Hello, I just nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blog Award. I do hope you accept the nomination; check my blog for the requirements and regulations that come along 😉 Chris
http://chrisbreebaart.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/one-week-two-awards-very-inspiring-blog-award/
Hi there Chris,
Thank you very much, how very generous of you! 🙂
My pleasure Karen to give you something in return for your wonderful pictures!
Exceptional shots, Karen…
Thanks, Marina.
I’m particularly taken by the lines, patterns, textures and shapes, quite apart from their uniqueness. My preference is for the b&w – they emphasize and focus attention on these characteristics.
Thank, Louis. I agree about the black and white emphasizing form. I think we share a similar aesthetic preference.
Very cool. I had no idea.
Anita, they are cool, aren’t they?
They are certainly under the radar in Ottawa for such a significant set of fossils.
Great shots, Karen – really interesting post.
I’m happy you found it interesting, Richard.
These make such nice patterns, and work so well in black and white. I like this idea of mapping with a camera.
Thanks, Ephem!
Very interesting! I don’t think I have ever come across such patterns. Loved the B&W tones here. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you, Nandini.
Nothing ‘lite’ to these stromatolites – they are gorgeously intense…
This is true, Alessandro. They have been solid millions of years!
How fascinating, thanks for sharing this..I love to know that this humming history is there..very grounding somehow, we are all part of where we came..
Hi Cath, yes I think I know what you mean about them being grounding. I love this area of the river for the sense of history it exudes.
Very cool!
Thank you, Coco.
Nature is wondrous and always has something new to teach us. Thanks for sharing this Karen. Beautiful photos as always 🙂
You are right, Marina. There is always something to learn. Thank you!
These are really beautiful. My sister works on fossils formed from cyanobacteria, so I have been learning all about them! Its amazing what beautiful shapes the goo like microbes can form when preserved in rocks.
Hi Anne, that is very cool that your sister studies fossils formed from cyanobacteria! How interesting. Is she working in England?
I see you are/were in Vancouver, I’ll have to pop over to your blog.
Cheers!
Gorgeous lines, textures and patterns. Very interesting post. Thank you!
Nature is just so interesting! I’m glad you enjoyed this Jane, thank you.
So beautiful, Karen…the images remind me of a quote you might know…”There is grandeur in this view of life….” Charles Darwin.
That is a perfect quote, Scott. Grandeur, certainly.
Thank you.
You’re welcome. 🙂
These are wild and cool Karen. I’ve never heard of stromatolites before.
Cool !! I always thought that stromatolites could only be found in Australia !
It might be true that the ones that are still growing are…
True ! It’s great to think that they are certainly at the origin of how our planet is right now …
Amazing, really!
A la Lisière de l’Ancien Monde , Ce Fleuve Traverse les Frontières ,
Ainsi la Roche mise en Lumière , Ouvre à la Vue une Vie Profonde ,
Celle où les Âges Veinaient la Ronde , sous d’Autres Formes en la Matière ,
Tant de Poésie en l’Univers , s’écoule au Cours du Fil de l’Onde.
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NéO~
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Merci pour cette Belle Découverte 😉
C’est une très belle découverte.
Nous vous remercions de votre poème!
Merci de votre Regard , sur le cours d’une Nature.
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NéO~