Chemical Valley is the cluster of more than sixty oil refineries and petrochemical plants that sprawls south of Sarnia along the St. Clair River. It is a heavy industrial landscape on a scale that is rare in Canada — flaring stacks, white storage spheres, and a constant hum that lights up the night sky in red and orange. Driving past on Highway 40 at dusk is a peculiar experience and a frequent visitor stop, however inadvertently.
The valley is also one of the most heavily polluted areas in the country, and the surrounding Aamjiwnaang First Nation community has documented unusually high rates of asthma and birth-sex imbalance. Treat it as something to look at from a distance rather than a place to stroll.