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'4:'HUMAN'ASPECTS'Slide%1:%Welcome%to%the%fourth%and%final%unit%on%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region.%%In%this%unit,%we%are%going%to%examine%the%human%aspects%of%this%physiographic%region%by%focusing%on%the%natural%resources%and%National%Parks%found%in%the%region.%%As%mentioned%in%the%second%module,%It%is%difficult%to%discuss%the%natural%environments%of%the%various%regions%within%Canada%without%examining%how%these%environments%influence%and%are%influenced%by%humans.%%%Additional%readings%on%the%human%aspects%of%the%natural%environment%in%the%Interior%Plains%are%provided%in%the%supplementary%information%included%with%this%module.%%Slide%2:%One%of%the%most%significant%human%aspects%related%to%the%natural%environments%are%natural%resources.%%These%include,%but%are%not%limited%to%the%forestry,%agriculture,%fisheries,%mining%and%water%resources.%%In%this%unit,%we%will%focus%on%the%natural%resources%found%in%Alberta,%Saskatchewan,%Manitoba%and%the%Northwest%Territories,%the%provinces%and%territory%that%comprise%the%majority%of%the%Interior%Plains%region.%%We%will%begin%our%discussion%by%examining%forestry%within%the%Interior%Plains.%%%%Slide%3:%Unlike%British%Columbia,%the%provinces%and%territories%that%comprise%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region%are%composed%of%more%lowMlying%topography%as%discussed%in%the%previous%units.%%Therefore%the%low%lying,%nonMmountainous%areas%are%and%have%been%harvested%for%lumber.%%Timber%covers%more%than%80%%of%the%northern%sections%of%the%three%provinces%of%this%physiographic%region.%%The%table%on%this%slide%shows%the%harvested%areas%(in%hectares)%and%the%domestic%exports%from%each%province%(in%millions%of%dollars)%in%2011.%By%far,%most%of%the%harvested%area%and%domestic%exports%come%from%Alberta.%%This%province%has%more%than%80,000%hectares%harvested%for%lumber%and%that%amounts%to%over%2%billion%dollars%in%exports%in%2011.%%One%thing%to%note%is%that%significant%portions%of%the%other%provinces%are%also%harvested%for%lumber,%even%though%these%provinces%may%not%be%known%for%their%lumber%exports.%%%%%% Page%|%2%%%Slide%4:%Agriculture%is%the%largest%natural%resource%in%the%Interior%Plains.%%It%has%also%been%one%of%the%most%exploited%natural%resources%in%the%region.%%As%discussed%in%a%previous%unit,%the%southern%portion%of%this%physiographic%region%is%known%as%the%Breadbasket%of%Canada.%%This%region%contains%the%majority%of%country’s%most%productive%agricultural%cropland,%rangeland%and%pasture.%%Therefore%the%area%is%the%source%of%much%of%this%country’s%food%and%as%a%result%the%export%of%grains,%oilseeds%and%animal%products%is%an%important%source%of%foreign%exchange.%%The%main%crops%grown%in%the%region%include%wheat,%barley,%oats,%flax,%potatoes%and%corn.%%The%map%on%the%slide%shows%the%wheat%areas%as%a%percentage%of%the%total%from%1997M2001.%%You%can%see%that%the%Prairie%ecozone%within%this%region%has%the%highest%percentages.%%The%same%can%be%said%for%most%of%the%other%crops%listed%on%this%slide.%%Alberta%is%Canada’s%2nd%largest%agricultural%producer,%earning%22%%of%Canada’s%farm%cash%receipts.%%%Agriculture%is%also%a%major%agent%of%change%in%this%physiographic%region.%%Natural%vegetation%has%been%eliminated%and%replaced%with%agricultural%crops,%influencing%most%native%communities%of%plants%and%animals.%%Loss%of%habitat%is%the%most%critical%threat%to%the%fauna.%%Little%of%the%natural%vegetation%is%left,%especially%in%the%more%productive%southern%areas%of%region,%a%situation%that%makes%life%difficult%for%some%animals%that%are%unique%to%the%grasslands.%Livestock%is%also%produced%in%the%region%due%to%the%productive%rangeland%and%pastures.%%The%livestock%include%cattle,%pigs%and%poultry.%%For%instance,%Manitoba%has%over%700%hog%farmers%and%is%the%largest%pigMproducing%and%pigMexporting%province%in%Canada%(accounting%for%about%30%%of%the%national%pig%production%and%60%%of%the%national%pig%exports).%%In%2007,%pig%production%earned%730%million%dollars.%%Alberta%leads%Canada%in%cattle%and%calf%inventories,%with%5.9%million%head%as%of%January%2006.%%%Agriculture%and%livestock%are%linked%to%the%promotion%of%tourism%industry%in%these%regions.%%Rodeos,%stampedes%and%fall%fairs%are%significant%tourist%attractions%within%the%Prairie%Provinces%and%are%directly%related%to%the%agriculture%and%livestock.%%For%instance,%the%2009%Calgary%stampede%had%a%gross%economic%impact%of%more%than%225%million%dollars%on%the%province%of%Alberta.%%Slide%5:%Fisheries%are%another%significant%natural%resource%within%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region.%%As%indicated%in%the%previous%section,%freshwater%fish%species%are%found%throughout%the%many%lakes%and%rivers%within%this%physiographic%region.%%The%major%fish%species%that%are%considered%a%natural%resource%(and%therefore%fished%for%profit)%include%the%yellow%pickerel,%whitefish,%pike%and%sucker.%%The%table%on%this%slide%shows%the%landed%volume%(in%both%tones%and%in%thousand%dollars)%for%these%major%fish%species%for%the%various%provinces%in%this%region.%%Manitoba%dominates%the%fisheries%in%the%three%provinces,%with%more%than%18%million%dollars%in%revenue%from%wild%fisheries%in%2011.%%%%%% Page%|%3%%%Slide%6:%The%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region%accounted%for%approximately%25%%of%mineral%activity%in%Canada%in%2010,%indicating%that%mining%is%a%significant%natural%resource%in%this%region.%%The%main%fuel%products%acquired%include%coal,%oil%and%natural%gas.%%These%deposits%are%primarily%found%in%isolated%pockets%and%cracks%within%the%horizontal%layers%of%sedimentary%bedrock%found%in%the%southern%areas%(conventional%oil)%and%northern%areas%(oils%sands)%of%Alberta.%%In%2011,%it%was%estimated%that%Alberta%has%the%third%largest%oils%reserve%(11%percent%of%total%global%oil%reserves),%behind%only%Saudi%Arabia%and%Venezuela.%%In%2012,%investment%in%the%oil%and%gas%industry%in%Alberta%was%almost%50%million%dollars.%%%The%major%minerals%mined%in%the%region%include%potash,%copper%and%zinc.%%Potash%is%an%important%mineral%to%the%economy%of%Saskatchewan.%%The%vast%underground%deposit%of%potash%lies%diagonally%across%the%southern%plains%of%Saskatchewan.%%Most%potash%in%Saskatchewan%is%in%the%form%of%potassium%chloride;%with%recoverable%reserves%well%over%100%billion%tonnes.%%Approximately%95%%of%the%world’s%potash%production%is%used%as%fertilizer%(the%remaining%being%used%in%a%variety%of%chemical%and%manufacturing%products).%%In%the%Northwest%Territories,%diamonds%are%a%major%source%of%revenue%(valued%at%2.1%billion%dollars%in%2011)%and%a%major%mineral%in%production%in%the%area.%%Slide%7:%The%final%natural%resource%we%will%examine%is%water.%%Surficial%water%in%the%Interior%Plains%region%drains%into%Hudson%Bay%to%the%east,%the%Arctic%Ocean%through%the%Mackenzie%River%and%south%into%the%United%States%(approximately%0.3%%flows%to%the%US%through%southern%Alberta%and%Saskatchewan).%%%%%%From%1971%to%2004,%the%highest%variability%in%water%yield%in%Canada%was%detected%in%the%Prairies.%%The%water%yield%for%this%area%decreased%by%approximately%0.56%cubic%kilometers%per%year.%%How%much%does%this%represent?%%This%value%equates%to%about%80%%of%the%total%volume%of%water%that%was%produced%by%drinking%water%plants%in%the%Prairie%Provinces%in%2005.%%%The%severe%floods%and%droughts%that%occurred%in%the%region%can%illustrate%this%variability%in%flow.%%In%1997,%a%flood%within%the%Red%River,%causing%over%450%million%dollars%in%damages,%inundated%southern%Manitoba.%%A%major%drought%occurred%in%major%parts%of%the%southern%Interior%Plains%region%between%1999%and%2004,%resulting%in%100s%of%millions%of%dollars%in%damages.%%These%two%events%illustrate%the%variability%and%severity%and%damage%of%this%variability%in%water%yield%in%the%Prairies.%%%%Slide%8:%I%would%like%to%now%move%our%attention%to%national%parks%found%within%the%Interior%Plains%region.%%National%parks%are%a%good%example%of%the%intersection%between%the%natural%and%human%environments.%%%%%% Page%|%4%%%Slide%9:%The%map%on%this%slide%shows%the%location%of%the%national%parks%in%Canada.%%Highlighted%by%the%red%box%are%the%parks%located%in%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region.%%In%total%6%national%parks%can%be%found%in%this%physiographic%region.%These%parks%vary%considerably%in%size,%ranging%from%194%square%kilometer%(Elk%Island%National%Park)%to%over%44800%square%kilometers%(Wood%Buffalo%National%Park).%%Due%to%the%number%of%parks%and%the%time%for%this%course,%we%will%not%be%discussing%all%of%these%6%national%parks.%%Information%on%all%the%parks%can%be%found%in%the%supplementary%information%that%comes%with%this%module.%%In%this%lecture,%we%will%only%be%focusing%on%two%national%parks%–%Wood%Buffalo%and%Riding%Mountain%National%Parks.%%These%are%located%in%different%parts%of%the%Interior%Plains%region,%and%thus%maintain%the%ecological%integrity%of%different%natural%environments.%%Slide%10:%Each%national%park%is%established%to%protect%a%part%of%Canada’s%natural%environment.%%Wood%Buffalo%National%Park%is%a%vast%wilderness%area,%extending%over%northern%Alberta%and%southern%Northwest%Territories.%%%The%map%on%this%slide%shows%the%location%of%the%park.%%It%protects%44,807%square%kilometers%and%is%the%second%largest%in%the%world%(and%largest%in%Canada).%%It%was%established%to%protect%the%flora%and%fauna,%along%with%the%natural%environment%of%the%northern%Boreal%Plains%and%Taiga%Plains%ecozones,%along%with%some%of%the%largest%undisturbed%grass%and%sedge%meadows%in%North%America.%%In%1983%it%was%designated%a%UNESCO%World%Heritage%Site%and%is%the%world’s%largest%darkMsky%preserve.%%Slide%11:%The%park%has%four%main%geological%features%as%indicated%on%the%slide.%%The%first%is%a%glacially%eroded%plateau.%The%plateau%is%of%Cretaceous%age%(between%145%and%66%million%years%old).%%Glacial%deposits%cover%much%of%the%area.%%Glaciated%plains%are%also%found%in%the%National%park.%%One%such%plain%is%the%BuffaloMLake%Robertson%Plain.%%This%is%underlain%by%shale%and%discontinuous%permafrost%and%has%vast%areas%of%muskeg%with%shallow%lakes%and%meandering%streams.%The%Slave%River%Plain%exhibits%karst%topography%(including%sinkholes,%sunken%valleys,%caves%and%submerged%rivers)%as%well%as%classic%anticlines%and%cold%springs%(with%mineralized%water).%The%third%landscape%feature%is%a%major%freshwater%delta%–%PeaceMAthabasca%Delta.%%This%is%the%world’s%largest%inland%delta.%%The%fourth%feature%is%alluvial%river%lowlands.%%One%such%lowland%is%the%Slave%River%Lowland.%%During%dry%periods,%the%mudflats%are%no%longer%under%water,%exposing%the%mineral%salts.%%These%salt%plains%are%unique%in%Canada.%%%% Page%|%5%%%Slide%12:%The%vegetation%in%this%National%Park%is%characteristic%of%the%ecozones%found%in%the%Interior%Plains%region%–%predominantly%white%spruce,%black%spruce,%jack%pine%and%tamarack.%%Shrublands%of%willow%and%alder%exists%where%wet%soils%meet%drier%forest%soils.%%In%the%west%and%north%of%the%park%lies%extensive%muskeg,%with%black%spruce,%sphagnum%moss%and%northern%heath%plants.%%As%already%mentioned%the%Wood%Buffalo%National%Park%is%home%to%the%largest%undisturbed%grass%and%sedge%meadows%in%North%America.%%%Slide%13:%These%natural%flora%assemblages%have%results%in%unique%fauna.%%The%park%is%home%to%one%of%the%world’s%largest%free%roaming,%selfMregulating%herds%of%North%American%bison.%%This%is%also%one%of%a%few%sites%where%wolves%still%prey%on%bison.%%The%predatorMprey%relationship%is%maintained%within%the%park%to%help%selfMregulate%the%herds.%%The%park%is%also%the%natural%nesting%place%of%the%whopping%crane,%peregrine%falcon%and%bald%eagle.%%%Wood%Buffalo%National%Park%is%also%home%to%over%46%mammals%(including%black%bear,%woodland%caribou,%Arctic%fox,%moose,%lynx%and%snowshoe%hare)%and%227%bird%species%(great%grey%owl,%willow%ptarmigan,%and%boreal%chickadee,%as%well%as%various%species%of%geese%and%duck).%%The%caves%found%within%the%park,%created%by%karst%processes,%provide%hibernation%sites%for%bats.%%Due%to%its%northern%location,%reptiles%and%amphibians%are%not%common%in%the%park.%%The%northern%extent%of%the%habitat%of%only%a%few%species%of%frog%and%snakes%can%be%found%within%the%park.%%%%Slide%14:%The%second%National%Park%in%the%Interior%Plains%region%we%will%be%examining%is%the%Riding%Mountain%National%Park.%This%national%park%is%located%in%the%southeastern%section%of%the%Interior%Plains%region%(as%shown%on%the%map%on%the%slide).%%The%history%of%this%park%is%quite%unique%to%National%Parks%in%Canada.%%The%park%was%established%in%1930.%%Archaeological%evidence%suggests%aboriginal%peoples%inhabited%the%area%for%at%least%6000%years.%%The%infrastructure%found%within%the%park%was%created%in%the%1930s%through%a%Great%Depression%relief%program.%%During%the%Second%World%War,%the%park%was%home%to%a%prisoner%of%war%camp.%%%%Slide%15:%Riding%Mountain%National%Park%covers%an%area%just%below%3000%square%kilometers.%%It%sits%atop%the%Manitoba%Escarpment%(which%was%defined%in%the%first%unit%in%this%module).%%This%escarpment%extends%into%northern%Saskatchewan.%%It%is%only%756%meters%at%its%highest%edge%on%the%northeastern%side,%yet%is%considered%a%mountain.%%To%the%west,%the%escarpment%gradually%merges%into%a%gently%rolling%landscape%of%a%highland%plateau.%%Found%throughout%the%park%are%prairie%potholes.%%These%are%lakes%of%all%sizes%that%were%left%as%the%glaciers%retreated.%%These%potholes%could%be%found%throughout%Manitoba,%however%those%in%the%park%have%remained%in%their%natural%state,%without%being%drained%and%plowed%under%(as%occurred%in%other%areas%of%Manitoba).%%%%%% Page%|%6%%%Slide%16:%This%park%was%established%to%protect%three%different%ecosystems:%grasslands,%upland%boreal%and%eastern%deciduous%forests.%%In%the%northern%areas%of%the%park,%boreal%forests%are%composed%of%black%spruce%muskeg%over%flat,%poorly%drained%land.%%In%the%south,%aspen%parkland%consisting%of%open,%rough%grasslands%and%aspen%groves%are%predominant.%%Bordering%this%parkland%is%a%zone%of%mixedMwood%forests%containing%various%species%of%both%coniferous%and%deciduous%trees.%%Few%native%stands%of%eastern%deciduous%forests%remain%in%Manitoba,%due%to%clearMcutting%for%agricultural%purposes.%%%%Slide%17:%Various%mammals%exist%in%the%national%Park.%%Large%herds%of%elk%and%wolf%packs%are%present%in%the%various%flora%communities.%The%park%also%has%one%of%the%largest%black%bear%populations%in%North%America.%%The%aspen%parkland%is%home%to%various%mammals%including%whiteMtailed%deer,%coyotes,%snowshoe%hares%and%ground%squirrels.%%In%early%1930s,%the%beaver%population%was%decreasing%and%at%low%numbers.%%Currently%there%is%an%explosion%in%the%population%and%numbers%are%over%18000%beavers%within%the%park.%%These%beavers%are%creating%over%3500%beaver%dams%which%are%preventing%fish%spawning%in%some%areas.%There%are%at%least%over%260%bird%species%including%great%gray%owls.%%The%dozens%of%prairie%potholes%provide%habitat%for%the%highest%density%of%breeding%ducks%in%North%America,%including%mallards%and%pintails.%%Slide%18:%This%concludes%the%human%aspects%unit%and%the%module%examining%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region.%%In%this%module%we%discussed%the%geology,%climate,%glaciers,%soils,%flora%and%fauna%and%human%aspects%of%this%physiographic%region.%%The%intention%of%these%PowerPoint%slides%to%provide%you%with%the%background%to%these%components%of%the%region,%which%I%hope%I%managed%to%accomplish.%%Please%use%the%supplementary%information%to%enhance%your%learning%with%respect%to%the%Interior%Plains%physiographic%region.%%If%there%are%any%questions%related%to%this%information,%please%don’t%hesitate%to%contact%your%instructor%for%this%course.%%Following%this,%you%should%complete%the%quiz%and%module%summary.%%%In%the%next%module%we%will%be%examining%the%components%of%the%Arctic%North.%%%