Ontario Resort Predicts Unusual Fall in the Haliburton Highlands Region

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by: rin-emedia
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Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2010 Time: 5:01 PM
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Geographically situated centrally between the villages of Haliburton, Ontario, Minden, Ontario and Dorset, Ontario, Oakview Lodge and Marina (http://www.oakviewlodge.com) lies at the heart of Haliburton cottage country, an area famously known for its bright and beautiful autumn leaves. Year after year, tourists flock to witness the splendour of fall colours. Many visitors even plan their vacations around it. "During the fall season, the whole county is ablaze with color" states Valerie Kulla, owner and innkeeper of Oakview Lodge, a full-service country inn on Little Hawk Lake. "We have been witnessing the fall colours in Haliburton for many years now, and we've become skilled at making accurate predictions as to when the peak of the colors will occur. This year, it seems as though leaves are changing much earlier than we have ever seen before. As such, we are recommending people consider planning their fall colour visit sooner rather than later in order to ensure they are able to see the best of what fall in Haliburton has to offer."

A busy seasonal tourist industry has grown up in Haliburton Highlands region around the few weeks in autumn when the leaves are at their peak. Haliburton locals refer to the intense two week period as "nature's art gallery" where the forests turn ablaze with a wonderful patchwork quilt of red, orange and yellow. Every year, individuals affectionately known as "leaf peepers" are drawn to the beauty of the fall colours, traveling to view, photograph and paint the spectacle. Wide expanses of forest and distinct seasonal changes make this region the ideal setting for the types of deciduous trees that produce the amazing colourful fall foliage that "leaf peepers" from around the world seek. In Haliburton, fall colors are typically at their peaks in early to mid October. This time period is known to fluctuate and is dependent on the summer's weather conditions.

Drier conditions and hotter than normal temperatures during this past summer have accelerated the leaf changing process, causing the leaves to change colour prematurely. Similarly, a wet September and October will tend to produce fewer vivid leaves and the leaves may also fall earlier in the season due to the rain, wind and storms. The prime weather conditions which are conducive to bright and brilliant fall colors are warm, sun dominant days and cooler, crisp nights, so long as there are no heavy frosts or freezing. High temperatures from 15c to 23c and lows between 5c and 10c are the ideal formula for spectacular fall colours. These sharp, daily temperature swings, and most importantly, the decrease in sunlight, play significant roles in the development of the leaf colour. This combination of weather and lack of sunlight creates a blocking-effect on the sugars which are created in the leaves and keeps them from reaching the root system. Eventually, these sugars convert to pigments that produce the vivid red, orange and yellow colors seen on many trees in the fall. The green chlorophyll in the leaves begins to fade during the shorter fall days with less sunlight as the primary cause. Thus, bright colourful pigments already in the tree leaves are exposed and come out to produce the fall colour splendour that Haliburton tourists are so impressed by.

"This summer's hot temperatures and less than normal rainfall amounts, combined with the temperature swings that we've been experiencing of late, mean that the trees are no doubt stressed into transitioning their leaves faster," Kulla adds. "Thankfully, these kinds of conditions are perfect for a colourful and vibrant fall season for our guests to enjoy. However, in order to view Ontario fall colours at their finest, visitors need to book their Haliburton fall tour getaway earlier this year."

Contact Information:
Valerie & Krenar Kulla, Innkeepers
Oakview Lodge & Marina
RR #2
Minden ON K0M 2K0
1 (866) 292-6125
info@oakviewlodge.com
http://www.oakviewlodge.com

About the Author

About Oakview Lodge & Marina:
Oakview Lodge & Marina, located in the beautiful Haliburton Highlands tourist region of Ontario, is a full-service country inn on crystal clear Little Hawk Lake offering lodge, cottage and bed & breakfast accommodations, fine dining and many recreational activities. The perfect Ontario resort vacation destination for romantic couples getaways, seniors tours and year-round family vacations. Oakview has attractive specials and accommodation packages available to make your Haliburton vacation both enjoyable and affordable. For more information call Oakview Lodge at 1 866 292-6125 or visit their web site (http://www.oakviewlodge.com.