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In 1938, a high-grade iron deposit was confirmed to exist under the
waters of Steep Rock Lake in northwestern Ontario, Canada, near the
small town of Atikokan. Steep Rock Iron Mines was incorporated in
1939 to develop and extract ore from this site. The project required
the dewatering of the lake which had a surface area of over five
square miles, the diversion of a major river system, the lowering of
nearby Finlayson Lake by 40 feet, and the largest dredging project
ever undertaken in Canada. In order to lower Finlayson Lake, a
tunnel was cut through solid rock 1400 feet long to provide
drainage. The impetus for the project was the need for a
reliable source of iron ore for the war effort. Freighters carrying
ore to North America were under assault and overseas suppliers
became unreliable. Canadian federal and provincial government
funding, as well as American funding, drove the project. An iron ore
dock was built at Port Arthur on the shore of Lake Superior. A rail
spur line was built and a 130-mile power line was strung from Fort
William to the mine site near Atikokan.
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The project was enormous in its scope and, over
the 40 years that the mines were active, provided great economic
benefit to the area. Steep Rock Iron Mines Ltd. contributed a great
deal to the post-war economic growth of Ontario. Locally, the
company initiated the development of Atikokan, set up its
infrastructure, and provided stable employment for more than 35
years. In its lifetime, the mine was Ontario’s foremost producer
of iron ore.
When the mine closed in 1980, the site was
allowed to return to its natural state. Pumps were turned off and
the pits began filling with water. Steep Rock Lake is now host to a
commercial fish farm. Fast growing poplar trees and scrub provide
wildlife habitat, while local residents enjoy hiking, biking, and
rockhounding. The Atikokan
Mining Attraction organization is actively promoting
tourism at the former iron mine site.
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A view of the Lake from a hiking lookout point
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