Toronto’s snow mountains: towering peaks that refuse to melt and leave a toxic trail

2026-03-11 - 11:03

Reaching up to 100ft, these massive piles contain tonnes of salt that keep roads clear – but pose environmental risks Most mountains take tens of millions of years to form. Toronto’s newest mountain took just days. Towering atop the crowns of evergreens, it has no skeleton of limestone or granite. There are no spires, cornices or headwalls. It is simply piles upon piles of snow, mixed with a toxic cocktail of road salt, antifreeze, oil, coffee cups and lost keys. It is the final resting place for the forces of nature that have battered the city in recent weeks – and a daunting environmental hazard. Continue reading...