Produce a module summary on Interior Plains region. The summary should highlight the major processes and landforms found in each region, and can be used as a review tool for the final exam. Summaries

Page%|%1%%%MODULE'3:'INTERIOR'PLAINS'UNIT'1:'GEOLOGY'AND'TOPOGRAPHY'Slide%1:%Welcome%back%to%GEOG%3760%Canada’s%Natural%Environments%and%Landforms.%%In%this%second%module%we%are%going%to%move%east%and%discuss%the%features%of%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region.%%As%with%all%modules%we%will%begin%this%unit%by%discussing%the%geology%and%topography%found%within%the%Interior%Plains.%%%Slide%2:%As%discussed%in%the%first%module%(the%Introduction%to%the%course%module),%this%physiographic%region%encompasses%most%of%the%Prairie%Provinces%(including%Alberta,%Saskatchewan%and%Manitoba)%as%well%as%large%sections%of%Yukon%and%Northwest%Territories.%%The%mustard%or%yellow%area%on%the%map%of%the%physiographic%regions%represents%the%spatial%extent%of%the%Interior%Plains%region.%The%total%region%occupies%an%area%of%1.8%million%square%kilometers%or%18%%of%Canada’s%land%surface.%%It%is%part%of%the%Great%Plains%of%North%America%and%extends%in%the%United%States.%%While%most%people%consider%this%region%to%be%flat%and%uniform,%as%we%will%discuss%in%this%module,%the%topography%consists%of%slopes%and%plateaus,%hills%and%valleys%–%therefore%it%is%anything%but%flat.%%%%Slide%3:%The%geology%of%the%region%is%composed%primarily%of%sedimentary%bedrock%consisting%mainly%of%poorly%consolidated%shales,%siltstones%and%sandstones.%%The%large%scale%features%we%will%discuss%in%this%unit%are%primarily%a%result%of%the%bedrock%relief,%however%small%scale%features%such%as%drumlins%and%eskers%found%throughout%the%region%are%largely%the%result%of%Quaternary%glaciation%(which%occurred%2.6%million%to%10,000%years%ago).%%%The%regional%topography%is%partly%determined%by%flatZlying%limestone%and%shale%bedrocks.%%These%rocks%are%of%marine%origin%deposited%when%a%shallow%sea%covered%the%area%(after%the%breakZup%of%Pangaea%–%as%shown%on%the%diagram%found%on%this%slide).%%As%the%water%evaporated,%coral%reefs%and%thick%layers%of%mineral%deposits%settled%to%the%surface%and%eventually%created%the%limestone%and%shale%bedrock%that%underlies%the%entire%region.%%This%is%the%main%source%for%oil%and%gas%found%in%Alberta%and%Saskatchewan.%%Covering%these%sediments%in%the%western%part%of%the%region%are%younger,%nonZmarine%sediments.%%These%sands%and%gravels%were%deposits%from%rivers%flowing%eastward%from%the%newly%formed%mountains%to%the%west.%%%%The%erosion%of%these%sediments,%in%association%with%the%uneven%uplift%that%continued%with%the%mountain%building%in%the%Western%Cordillera%region%resulted%in%the%formation%of%a%series%of%isolated%uplands.%% Page%|%2%%%Slide%4:%The%Interior%Plains%region%can%be%divided%into%a%series%of%five%main%features.%%The%first%(and%most%easterly%feature)%is%the%Manitoba%Plain%or%Lowland.%%This%feature%is%shown%(and%highlighted)%on%the%map%found%on%this%slide.%%This%lowland%is%the%lowest%and%flattest%of%the%three%prairie%steps%(Manitoba%Plain,%Saskatchewan%Plain%and%Alberta%Plain).%%It%is%approximately%250%km%wide%and%lies%at%elevations%under%400%m.%%The%Manitoba%lowland%is%underlain%by%Paleozoic%rocks%(between%544%and%250%million%years%old).%%These%rocks%are%covered%by%mantle%of%Quaternary%glacial%drift,%composed%predominantly%of%glacial%lake%silts%and%clays%deposited%by%Lake%Agassiz.%%The%deposition%of%these%glaciolacustrine%deposits%flattened%the%landscape.%%This%drift%forms%a%very%fertile%environment%for%flora%and%fauna%(as%we%will%discuss%in%a%future%unit).%%The%lowland%started%to%form%between%3%and%4%million%years%ago.%%Slide%5:%The%Manitoba%Lowlands%are%bordered%to%the%west%by%the%Manitoba%Escarpment.%%The%arrow%on%the%map%on%this%slide%indicates%the%location%of%the%Manitoba%Escarpment.%%This%feature%rises%300%meters%above%the%Manitoba%lowlands.%%The%escarpment%was%originally%formed%by%the%undercutting%of%the%sandstones%deposited%during%the%Cretaceous%period%by%the%precursor%to%the%Red%River.%%Over%time%and%due%to%glacial%scouring,%the%escarpment%was%steepened%to%its%present%elevation.%%It%marks%the%boundary%of%Lake%Agassiz%and%the%eastern%edge%of%Riding%Mountain%National%Park%–%two%features%that%will%be%discussed%in%future%units.%%Slide%6:%Westward%of%the%Manitoba%Escarpment%lies%the%Saskatchewan%Plain%–%the%second%step%located%in%the%Interior%Plains.%%This%plain%is%shown%on%the%map%found%on%the%slide%(and%circled%in%red).%%This%feature%has%a%surface%elevation%that%ranges%from%approximately%450%m%to%800%m%–%the%hillier%areas%have%elevations%greater%than%900%m.%%The%Saskatchewan%Plain%is%underlain%primarily%by%marine%shales%deposited%during%the%Cretaceous%period%(145%to%65%million%years%old).%%This%bedrock%is%covered%by%glacial%deposits,%primarily%moraines%and%till%plains,%as%well%as%large%flat%deposits%of%former%glacial%lakes.%%%%%%% Page%|%3%%%Slide%7:%The%Saskatchewan%Plain%is%bordered%to%the%west%by%the%Missouri%Coteau%(the%location%of%which%is%shown%by%the%arrow%on%the%map).%%This%feature%has%a%gradual%slope%and%is%100%meters%higher%than%the%plain%to%the%east.%%It%represents%a%thickening%of%nonZmarine%sediments%of%Cretaceous%age.%%Subsequent%to%the%deposition%of%these%sediments,%the%Coteau%has%heaved%and%subsided%in%response%to%deep%crustal%forces,%causing%significant%crustal%movement.%%This%has%created%a%series%of%northwestZsoutheast%aligned%highlands%or%hill%lands.%%The%surface%consists%of%thick%glacial%sediments%(up%to%60%m%thick)%underlying%grassland%and%pothole%features.%%This%feature%is%approximately%15%to%40%km%in%length.%%%%%%%Slide%8:%To%the%west%of%the%Missouri%Coteau%lies%the%third%step%or%level%in%the%Interior%Plains%–%the%Alberta%Plain.%%The%location%of%the%Alberta%Plain%is%circled%on%the%map%on%this%slide.%%It%extends%to%the%west%to%the%Western%Cordillera%physiographic%region%and%the%Rocky%Mountains.%%This%plain%has%an%elevation%of%800%to%more%than%1000%meters%above%sea%level.%%It%is%underlain%by%Tertiary%bedrock%(deposited%between%65%and%2.6%million%years%ago).%%This%bedrock%is%more%erosionZresistant%and%therefore%the%Alberta%Plain%has%a%more%varied%topography.%%%The%Alberta%Plain%can%be%subdivided%into%a%number%of%smaller%regions.%%Beyond%the%Missouri%Coteau,%the%Alberta%Plain%begins%with%the%Eastern%Alberta%Plains.%%This%feature%is%only%slightly%higher%than%the%Saskatchewan%Plain.%%Westward%lies%the%Western%Alberta%Plains,%which%reach%elevations%of%more%than%1000%meters.%%The%Southern%Alberta%Uplands%form%a%buffer%between%the%plains%and%the%mountains.%%This%feature%reaches%elevations%approaching%1650%m.%North%of%Lesser%Slave%Lake%in%central%Alberta%lies%the%Northern%Alberta%Uplands.%%This%upland%is%a%series%of%disconnected%plateaus%that%rise%to%elevations%up%to%1050%m.%%The%Northern%Alberta%Lowlands%surround%the%uplands%and%are%between%250%and%700%m%lower%in%elevation.%%Within%these%lowlands%lie%the%river%valleys%for%the%Peace,%Athabasca%and%Hay%Rivers.%%The%lowlands%and%uplands%in%the%Alberta%Plains%are%largely%covered%by%glacial%lake%deposits%and%till%plains%%Slide%9:%The%Interior%Plains%extend%northward%to%the%Arctic%Ocean%through%the%Mackenzie%River%Valley.%%Within%this%area,%elevations%gradually%decrease%northward%where%this%physiographic%region%encounters%the%Arctic%region.%%On%the%east%side,%the%elevation%gently%increases%from%the%river%valley%to%the%Precambrian%Shield%(forming%the%Canadian%Shield%physiographic%region).%%On%the%west%side,%this%physiographic%region%meets%the%Western%Cordillera%and%again%elevations%rise,%however%sharply%to%the%Rocky%Mountains.%As%I%hope%you%have%come%to%appreciate,%the%Interior%Plains%are%not%a%flat,%uniform%landscape%where%one%can%see%from%Calgary%(at%the%western%edge%of%the%region)%to%Winnipeg%(at%the%eastern%edge).%%In%the%next%few%slides%we%will%discuss%some%of%the%smaller%scale%features%that%add%to%the%unique%and%varied%topography%of%this%physiographic%region.%%%% Page%|%4%%%Slide%10:%As%discussed%in%the%supplementary%information%and%included%in%the%discussion%of%some%of%the%previous%slides,%the%Interior%Plains%contain%some%hills%or%mountains.%%Three%such%features%are%the%Cypress%Hills,%Caribou%Mountains%and%Duck%Mountain.%Cypress%Hills%are%located%in%southwestern%Saskatchewan%and%southeastern%Alberta.%%The%arrow%on%the%bottom%left%of%the%map%shows%the%location%of%this%feature.%%These%hills%rise%up%to%elevations%in%excess%of%1300%m.%%The%highest%point%is%at%1466%meters%(located%at%Head%of%the%Mountain%in%Alberta).%%These%hills%are%composed%of%remnants%of%erosion%of%a%Tertiary%plateau%of%sediment%formed%during%the%initial%uplift%of%the%Rocky%Mountains.%%These%hills%were%probably%the%only%unglaciated%land%in%the%Interior%Plains%region%(and%one%of%few%unglaciated%areas%in%Canada).%%The%topography%results%from%a%series%of%glacial%till%ridges%(known%as%moraines)%that%were%deposited%as%the%last%glaciers%retreated%approximately%15,000%years%ago.%Caribou%Mountains%can%be%found%in%the%Northern%Alberta%Uplands.%%The%arrow%on%the%top%of%the%map%shows%the%location%of%these%mountains.%%These%mountains%reach%elevations%greater%than%1000%m;%700%m%higher%than%the%surrounding%area.%%%%Wood%Buffalo%National%Park%is%located%to%the%north%and%east%of%the%Caribou%Mountains%(we%will%discuss%this%national%park%in%unit%4%of%this%module).%The%Duck%Mountains%are%located%within%the%Manitoba%Escarpment%(location%is%shown%by%the%arrow%on%the%right%of%the%map).%%These%mountains%have%an%elevation%400%m%higher%than%the%Manitoba%Plain.%%%The%underlying%bedrock%is%composed%of%Cretaceous%shales%and%sandstone.%%This%bedrock%is%overlain%by%thick%glacial%sediments.%%The%high%vertical%relief%is%a%consequence%of%fluvial%erosion%of%the%surrounding%prairie%by%the%ancestral%Red%and%Assiniboine%Rivers,%rather%than%any%mountain%building%forces%(such%as%those%described%in%the%Western%Cordillera%module).%%%%Slide%11:%An%additional%class%of%features%of%the%region%is%aeolian%or%windZdriven%deposits.%%Aeolian%deposits%are%created%by%the%transport%and%deposition%of%particles%by%wind,%and%have%created%specific%landforms%in%the%Interior%Plains.%%One%such%landform%is%a%loess%deposit.%%A%loess%deposit%is%a%featureless%mound%of%siltZsized%sediment%that%has%accumulated%due%to%wind%processes.%%In%the%Interior%Plains,%the%sources%of%these%sediments%are%outwash%plains%and%till%deposits%formed%during%the%last%glacial%period%(these%features%are%described%in%the%following%unit).%%These%loess%deposits%can%be%very%thick%in%areas%of%the%Interior%Plains.%%%Another%feature%that%is%found%in%the%Interior%Plains%region%is%sand%dunes.%%A%sand%dune%is%a%hill%or%mound%of%sand%built%up%by%wind.%%Unlike%a%loess%deposit,%these%features%have%a%distinct%shape%–%they%are%typically%gentler%slope%on%the%windward%side%where%the%sand%is%pushed%up%the%dune,%and%have%a%shorter%but%steeper%slip%face%in%the%leeward%direction.%%The%type%of%dunes%will%vary%depending%on%the%direction%of%the%winds.%%Active%sand%dunes%can%be%found%in%the%Great%Sandhills%region%in%Saskatchewan.%%%% Page%|%5%%%Slide%12:%The%final%feature%we%will%examine%in%the%Interior%Plains%region%is%the%Badlands.%%In%southern%Alberta%and%Saskatchewan,%aeolian%and%glacial%processes%have%eroded%the%softer%sedimentary%rocks%and%clayZrich%soils,%leaving%behind%a%dry%terrain%with%thin%to%nonexistent%regolith.%%This%feature%is%known%as%the%Badlands.%%The%photo%on%this%slide%shows%the%Alberta%Badlands%which%is%home%to%Dinosaur%Provincial%Park%(see%supplementary%information%for%a%brief%description%of%this%park).%%This%area%is%characterized%by%steep%slope,%minimal%vegetation%and%a%high%drainage%density.%%As%seen%in%the%figure,%this%feature%typically%has%layers%of%rock%strata%with%alternating%colour.%%The%formation%of%the%badlands%is%a%product%of%both%deposition%and%erosion.%%Over%time%sediment%is%deposited%and%solidified%into%a%soft%sedimentary%layer.%%This%layer%will%then%become%subject%to%erosion.%%%%Slide%13:%This%concludes%the%unit%on%geology%and%topography%for%the%Interior%Plains%region.%%You%should%review%the%supplementary%information%that%corresponds%to%this%unit%and%read%the%readings%listed.%%In%the%next%section%we%will%discuss%the%climate%and%glaciers%found%in%this%physiographic%region.%%