Why Do Leaves Change Colour in the Fall? Fall Colours in North Bay
It’s back! The most vibrant of the seasons: Fall. As the temperatures start to drop and the days begin to get shorter, the forest transforms into a canopy of colour. In North Bay and the Nipissing Region area, the Boreal Forest that surrounds us turns into a picturesque landscape of gold, yellow, orange, and red. All the way across the Laurentian Escarpment and beyond, the forest transforms before our eyes in one last show of brilliance before winter is beckoned forth.
Laurentian Escarpment – credit: Scott Edworthy
Best Places to See Fall Colours in Ontario: North Bay and Nipissing
A seasonal display of brilliance often taken for granted, the changing of the leaves draws out the crowds to trek the local trails, take in the viewpoints, and indulge in the picture-perfect sights. In North Bay, there are plenty of pristine places to choose from so you can soak up the colours. Laurentian Escarpment and its 70-meter-long canvas wrap around the city offering views for even the urban dwellers.
Whether it is a hike to Duchesnay Falls, or a trek along the Laurentian Escarpment Conservation Area trails, or a day trip to nearby provincial parks Restoule, Mikisew, Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and the northwestern access point of Algonquin Provincial Park, either way the views will not fail to delight.
Duchesnay Falls
Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? The Science Explained
While the fall colours are a seasonal, and sometimes an annual, fan favourite, you may wonder about the reason behind it all? Have you ever stepped out into a crisp autumn morning, looked about at the fiery maple trees or golden birches and wondered “why”? Aside from bringing colour to the sometimes-gloomy days, there is a simply scientific reason behind the most picturesque season.
What Makes Leaves Green?
Leaves contain something called chloroplasts. Chloroplasts serve as disk-like structures within cells and their role is to produce food for the tree. You may know this sequence as photosynthesis. Well, chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, and chlorophyll is what provides the leaves with their pigment, giving them their green colour. This makes them ideal for absorbing sunlight, a critical ingredient in the photosynthesis process. More sunlight equals more chlorophyll, which equals greener trees! Now, you may see where this is going. As July turns to August and August to September, the days grow shorter and the sun gets further from earth, thus reducing the available sunlight.
Why Leaves Turn Yellow and Orange
As the fall begins to grasp the area, chlorophyll can no longer pack the same punch it used to. It begins to lie dormant, which means the leaves can longer produce food for the tree. As the chlorophyll breaks down, more chemicals appear, such as carotene and xanthophylls, which give the leaves orange and yellow pigments, and anthocyanins, which bring forth the reds.
Why Leaves Turn Red
The reds are a result of sugars in the leaf, which get stored in the twigs to return with the spring season. While it seems like the chlorophyll is defeated, these pigments occur from the chemicals emerging in leaf cells, including anthocyanins, protecting the chlorophyll from suffering any damage.
Fall in love with North Bay
Which Trees Change Colour in North Bay’s Boreal Forest?
Situated on the Canadian Shield, North Bay also lies within the boreal forest. The largest forest region in Ontario and Canada, the boreal forest is a mix of coniferous (softwood) and deciduous (hardwood).
Species include black and white spruce, jack pine, balsam fir, tamarack, eastern white cedar, poplar, and white birch. This terrific mix of species gives North Bay a landscape of primarily emerald, yellow, and gold with a splash of reds and oranges.
Fall Hiking in North Bay – credit: Scott Edworthy
As we set out this fall on to the trails and wherever else our adventures may take us, hopefully this extra added knowledge makes the fall colour display even more brilliant. Stand in awe of the colours and be mesmerized by the natural processes which occur beyond our sight.
Enjoy Fall Colours Responsibly
It’s also important to remember that while you set out to enjoy this seasonal wonder, others hope to do the same!
So, kindly respect our natural spaces by staying on the designated trails, leaving no trace of your presence, allowing others the same experience you hope for, and working to ensure our beautiful outdoor space remains as pristine as possible.
Visit North Bay and explore all the things to do and see during our Fall Festival.
Happy fall y’all!!