Sarnia, Industrial port city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Description
Sarnia is a city in southwestern Ontario that stretches along the shore of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River, where several oil refineries and chemical plants operate. The city forms a continuous urban area with Port Huron on the opposite side of the river in Michigan, connected by the Blue Water Bridge.
History
La Salle arrived here in 1679 and described the rapids in the river, while the first permanent settlement did not begin until after 1807. The oil discoveries in the 1850s near Petrolia transformed the area into an oil industry center and led to the construction of several refineries.
Culture
The first theatre in the region was built here in the mid-1800s and drew touring companies from across the United States. Canatara Park, with its long sandy beach and old-growth Carolinian forest, remains a favorite gathering place where families swim and picnic on warm summer days.
Practical
The waterfront boardwalk and bike trails run for several kilometers along the river and offer views of ship traffic. Most attractions are concentrated on the northern part of the city near the waterfront, while the industrial facilities sit farther south.
Did you know?
The chemical plants along the riverfront are visible from the Michigan side at night and glow like a small skyline. An underground salt deposit beneath the city has supplied raw materials to the chemical industry for over a century.
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Blue Water Bridge
3 km
United States lightship Huron
2.3 km
Thomas Edison Depot Museum
3.1 km
Fort Gratiot
2.9 km
Fort Gratiot Light
3.8 km
USCGC Bramble
2.2 kmPort Huron Museum
1.6 km
Harrington Hotel
1.5 km
Ladies of the Maccabees Building
1.8 km
Fort St. Joseph
3.5 km
Federal Building
1.6 km
Carnegie Center
1.6 km
Wilbur F. Davidson House
1.8 km
Seventh Street–Black River Bridge
1.7 kmWawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area
7.2 kmJudith & Norman Alix Art Gallery
150 mGranite marker
1.2 kmImperial Oil Centre for the Performing Arts
208 mCity of Sarnia City Gate
3.2 kmGeorge Street School bell
421 mCollege Park
389 mBlackwell Church
8.9 km115 Christina Street South
495 mHuron Theatre
1.5 km129 Maria Street
388 m329 MacKenzie Street North
1 km245 Cromwell Street
430 m251 North Vidal Street
233 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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