From Far and Looking Across

How far can the human eye see?  I looked across the lake yesterday and saw sky rather than Toronto.  Is the following true? "The Earth's surface curves out of sight at a distance of 3.1 miles, or 5 kilometers. But our visual acuity extends far beyond the horizon. If Earth were flat, or if you were standing atop a mountain surveying a larger-than-usual patch of the planet, you could perceive bright lights hundreds of miles distant. On a dark night, you could even see a candle flame flickering up to 30 mi. (48 km) away". It comes from livescience.com     CLEVELAND – Scientists say it's a mirage, but others swear that when the weather is right, Clevelanders can see across Lake Erie and spot Canadian trees and buildings 50 miles away. Eyewitness accounts have long been part of the city's history. Jul 31, 2006.  This article is HERE.  I find out that you can see the Toronto Skyline from the Lake Ontario Shoreline in New York. I found a YouTube video of the Toronto skyline from New York State -  it was great as the lake waves were large and turbulent, so it looked like Toronto was sinking below the furious waves.  The distance is 30 miles. The distance from Niagara-on-the-Lake is 32 miles or 51 kilometres, so Toronto is often visible. And it is just a little farther to Grimsby at 55 kilometres or 34 miles.  Can we see Buffalo from Toronto?  I read that the answer is no - seems to me that is quite the distance.  Buffalo is 95 kilometres - 59 miles, so is much farther. Niagara Falls is visible from the CN Tower at 68 kilometres.  Of course, we've got the advantage of the height. Here's a post that shows Toronto from various locations across the lake.    My view across the lake yesterday at Flat Rock Cellars showed nothing at all - if one is looking for Toronto.  It shows the wonderful vineyards and the rusty shed down below.  So I've included a wonderful scene from the Watering Can in Vineland.

Toronto From Across

This is Toronto - on the other side of the Lake.  So where is the best view of Toronto?  The top picture is from Grimsby Beach, the second one from Mike Weir Winery on Locust Lane, and the third one from Flat Rock Cellars on 7 Avenue in Jordan.  The bottom picture shows the Flat Rock Cellars Building from the road leading to it.  The view from Flat Rock is excellent with the vineyards stretching out below it. I was on Locust Lane last week and took pictures from the Mike Weir winery.  They feel they have best view.  I've also heard Vineland Estates consider itself to have the best view. And Peninsula Ridge is very proud of their view. So there are a few more locations to visit. I wanted to find the answer the easy way and did a google search.  But there don't seem to be any blogs or articles on the best scenic views across the lake. The search did retrieve a great view from the Skylon Tower. What the articles tell me is that the density of the air plays an important role. The air temperature and the water temperature are important factors.  Right now the Lake is the warmest it has been for many years but this isn't the condition needed for the towering Toronto image.  The towering Toronto image occurs most often when the water is relatively cold compared to the air temperature.  So I may have to wait until next year for this to happen. I live just under the escarpment where Beamer Park is located - with a great elevated view across the Lake. When I was there last, there were Lake Effects, so there was a "gray" across the Lake with no distinction between Lake and sky. There's a lot of ground to cover so I'll keep you posted on "Toronto From Across".

Toronto's Skyline Garden

I participate in an artists website, Redbubble.  I have an artist portfolio where my work can be purchased in many formats in addition to traditional posters, canvases, photographic and art prints.  Examples include iPhone and iPad cases, graphic t-shirts, pencil skirts, throw pillows, duvet covers, mugs, and tote bags.  I am a host on the site, hosting several groups where we feature images regularly and launch contest challenges.  My co-host, Carol, decided on a challenge in All Glorious Gardens that would feature gardens that show a city setting.   I scrolled through my portfolio and rejected images that lacked the sense of the 'city' in the setting.  Then I remembered last summer's Garden Fling with all the garden bloggers. We went to Ward's Island, one of the Toronto Islands, and took our group photo there.  I shared this view of Toronto at the time.  I don't think there are many cities that can boast this combination.  Toronto always amazes!