Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. Get ready to flex your Sarnia muscles! This quiz features 20 questions on everything from the basics to the most obscure facts. Can you ace it? Find out where you stand.
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, a French explorer, first discovered Sarnia's natural harbor on August 23, 1679. He named the site "The Rapids" and was the first to sail a vessel other than a canoe or oar-powered vessel into Lake Huron.
Oil was first discovered in Oil Springs, near Sarnia, in 1858. This discovery led to the growth of the petroleum industry in the area and established Sarnia as a hub for oil drilling expertise.
In 2011, Sarnia had the highest level of particulates air pollution of any Canadian city. However, it has since dropped to rank 30th in this hazard. About 60 percent of the particulate matter comes from industries and polluters in the neighboring United States.
Sarnia has a humid continental climate, which is moderated by Lake Huron. The lake is cooler than the air in summer and warmer than the air in winter, making temperature extremes of hot and cold less evident.
In the winter, Sarnia occasionally experiences lake-effect snow caused by Arctic air blowing across the warmer waters of Lake Huron. The air condenses to form snow squalls over land.
Lake Huron flows into the St. Clair River at Sarnia. The city is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes, where the river forms the Canada–United States border.
Le Griffon, a 45-ton barque, was the first vessel other than a canoe or oar-powered vessel to sail into Lake Huron. French explorer La Salle had horses and men pull the vessel north against the nearly four-knot current of the St. Clair River on August 23, 1679.
As of 2021, Sarnia's population is 72,047. It is the largest city on Lake Huron and has experienced growth due to its natural harbor and the petroleum industry.
French explorer La Salle named the site "The Rapids" on August 23, 1679, due to the strong current of the St. Clair River. This discovery led to the development of commercial shipping on the Great Lakes.
Sarnia's port is an important center for lake freighters and oceangoing ships carrying cargoes of grain and petroleum products. Its natural harbor and strategic location make it a key shipping hub.
The petroleum industry, which began with the discovery of oil in nearby Oil Springs in 1858, led to the growth of Sarnia. The knowledge acquired there resulted in oil drillers from Sarnia traveling the world to teach others how to drill for oil.
Chemical Valley, located south of downtown Sarnia, is home to a complex of refining and chemical companies. This area has contributed to the city's economic growth and development.
About 60 percent of Sarnia's particulate air pollution comes from industries and polluters in the neighboring United States. This has led to air quality concerns in the city.
Lake Huron moderates Sarnia's humid continental climate by being cooler than the air in summer and warmer than the air in winter. This helps to reduce temperature extremes in the city.
The St. Clair River forms the Canada-United States border near Sarnia. It connects Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair and is an important shipping route in the Great Lakes region.
La Salle's barque Le Griffon weighed 45 tons and was the first non-oar-powered vessel to sail into Lake Huron. This marked a significant milestone in the development of commercial shipping on the Great Lakes.