Produce a module summary on Canadian Shield region. This summary should highlight the major processes and landforms found in each region, and can be used as a review tool for the final exam. This sum

Page%|%1%%%MODULE'5:'CANADIAN'SHIELD'UNIT'4:'HUMAN'ASPECTS'Slide%1:%Welcome%to%the%fourth%and%final%unit%on%the%Canadian%Shield%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.%%I%believe%that%the%physical%and%human%environments%are%connected%and%should%be%discussed%in%concert%rather%than%as%two%separate%features.%%%Additional%readings%on%the%human%aspects%of%the%natural%environment%in%the%Canadian%Shield%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%the%Canadian%Shield,%and%more%specifically%in%some%of%the%provinces%where%this%physiographic%region%dominates.%%We%will%begin%our%discussion%by%examining%forestry%within%the%Canadian%Shield.%%%%Slide%3:%As%discussed%in%the%previous%unit,%forests%are%a%major%component%of%Canadian%Shield,%dominating%two%of%the%largest%ecozones%in%the%region%and%Canada.%%The%boreal%forest%in%the%Canadian%Shield%is%the%largest%forest%in%the%world,%with%over%106%million%hectares%classified%as%timberMproductive%land.%%The%map%on%this%slide%shows%the%location%and%size%of%the%intact%forest%in%the%Ontario%sector%of%the%Canadian%Shield.%%Overall,%approximately%40%%of%the%original%forest%in%this%region%is%preserved%and%intact.%%The%forest%and%the%forestry%industry%is%a%major%employer%in%the%Shield%area.%%Trees%are%harvested%from%the%forest%and%processed%in%nearby%mills.%%Approximately%4%hundred%thousand%hectares%of%timber%are%harvested%each%year.%%This%is%only%second%to%the%Western%Cordillera.%%The%trees%are%used%mainly%to%make%pulp%and%paper%products%and%building%supplies.%%The%mills%and%industry%around%forestry%have%contributed%significantly%to%the%economy%of%many%local%towns.%%ClearMcutting%is%a%major%concern%in%the%area,%potentially%leading%to%notable%soil%erosion%and%loss%of%wildlife%habitats.%%%% Page%|%2%%%Slide%4:%Minerals%are%a%major%resource%in%the%Canadian%Shield%physiography%region.%%Due%to%the%timing%and%process%of%formation%almost%4%billion%years%ago,%the%area%is%one%of%the%world’s%richest%in%terms%of%minerals.%%The%igneous%rock%in%the%Shield%contains%copper,%gold,%zinc,%iron%ore,%nickel%and%uranium.%%There%are%at%least%140%mining%sites%in%this%region%(as%shown%on%the%map%on%this%slide)%and%approximately%1.5%million%people%make%their%living%in%the%mining%industry.%%Mining%is%one%of%the%oldest%industries,%beginning%as%early%as%the%1800’s%and%still%continues%today.%Ontario%is%one%of%the%world’s%top%10%mineral%producers,%producing%more%than%10%billion%dollars%in%2011.%%This%province%is%significant%producer%of%gold,%copper,%zinc,%nickel%and%platinum%metals.%%One%of%the%largest%and%bestMknown%mining%locations%is%Sudbury%Ontario.%%The%minerals%at%this%location%were%probably%formed%as%a%result%of%an%ancient%meteorite%impact%crater,%rather%than%the%normal%geological%process%of%forming%minerals.%The%Flin%Flon%greenstone%belt%in%central%Manitoba%and%eastMcentral%Saskatchewan%is%one%of%the%largest%Paleoproterozoic%volcanicMhosted%massive%sulfide%districts%in%the%world,%containing%27%copperMzincMgold%deposits.%183%million%tons%of%sulfide%has%already%been%mined%from%this%area.%The%Canadian%Shield%in%the%Northwest%Territories%is%the%site%of%several%major%diamond%discoveries.%%The%kimberlite%pipes%in%which%the%diamonds%are%found%are%closely%associated%with%cratons,%which%provide%the%deep%lithospheric%mantle%required%to%stabilize%diamond%as%a%mineral%(convert%carbon%to%diamond).%The%kimberlite%eruptions%then%bring%the%diamonds%from%over%150%kilometers%deep%in%the%crust%to%the%surface.%Currently%the%Ekati%and%Diavik%mines%are%actively%mining%kimberlite%diamonds.%%The%diamond%mines%have%trained%over%1400%people,%and%brought%in%an%estimated%billion%dollars%into%the%economies%of%northern%regions%(since%1998).%%%%Slide%5:%Due%to%the%large%amount%of%surface%waters%in%lakes%and%streams%in%the%region,%this%is%an%important%natural%resource.%%Over%one%third%of%the%Canadian%Shield%is%covered%by%water.%%This%water%has%been%utilized%to%produce%hydroelectricity.%%Most%hydroelectric%production%is%found%within%the%Hudson%Bay%basin.%%The%reason%is%three%fold:%it%offers%the%highest%streamflow,%sudden%drops%in%elevation%and%large%fast%flowing%rivers.%%One%of%the%largest%electricity%generating%projects,%the%James%Bay%Project,%is%located%in%the%Canadian%Shield.%%This%project%uses%the%La%Grande%River%to%produce%electricity.%%While%this%is%a%‘cleaner’%form%of%energy,%it%is%not%without%its%environmental%and%social%issues.%%The%James%Bay%Project%was%very%controversial.%%%%%% Page%|%3%%%Slide%6:%Due%to%the%climate%and%flora%present%in%the%Canadian%Shield,%many%furMbearing%animals%make%this%region%their%home.%%These%animals%were%one%of%the%first%resources%to%be%exploited%for%commercial%use.%%The%rich,%soft%felt%made%from%beaver%pelts%was%highly%prized%by%the%aristocracy%of%Europe.%%Due%to%the%high%demands,%beaver%were%almost%hunted%out%of%existence.%%Many%other%animals%were%also%trapped%including%rabbit,%wolves%and%lynx.%%The%rapid%expansion%of%the%fur%trade%lead%to%the%exploration%of%large%areas%of%Canada,%and%the%settlement%of%many%towns%and%cities.%%The%map%on%this%slide%shows%the%spatial%extent%of%fur%trading%by%the%Hudson%Bay%Company,%one%of%the%world’s%largest%companies%during%the%18th%and%19th%centuries.%%%%Slide%7:%Agriculture%and%farming%is%not%a%large%natural%resource%in%the%Canadian%Shield.%%Due%to%a%short%growing%season,%crops%usually%don’t%survive.%%The%soil%is%also%very%waterlogged%and%farming%areas%are%isolated.%%Limited%farming%does%occur%however%this%is%limited%to%dairy%farming.%%Vegetable%and%grain%farming%are%also%minor%practices.%%Slide%8:%I%would%like%to%now%move%our%attention%to%national%parks%found%within%the%Canadian%Shield%region.%%National%parks%are%a%good%example%of%the%intersection%between%the%natural%and%human%environments.%%%%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%Canadian%Shield%physiographic%region.%%In%total%6%national%parks%can%be%found%in%this%physiographic%region.%These%parks%vary%considerably%in%size,%ranging%from%151%square%kilometer%(Mingan%Archipelago%National%Park%in%eastern%Quebec)%to%over%20%thousand%square%kilometers%(Ukkusiksalik%National%Park%in%Nunavut).%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%–%Torngat%Mountains%and%Wapusk%National%Parks.%%These%are%located%in%different%regions%of%the%Shield%–%Torngat%Mountains%National%Park%in%the%Taiga%Shield%ecozone,%Wapusk%in%the%Hudson%Plains%ecozone.%%Slide%10:%The%Torngat%Mountains%National%Park%is%one%of%the%newest%national%parks%in%the%Canadian%system.%%It%was%established%in%2005%to%protect%the%Taiga%Shield%ecozone.%%It%extends%from%the%Saglek%fjord%to%the%northern%tip%of%Labrador%and%from%the%Atlantic%seacoast%to%the%Quebec%border.%%The%location%of%this%park%is%shown%in%the%map%on%this%slide.%% Page%|%4%%%Slide%11:%The%rocks%of%the%Torngat%Mountains%National%Park%are%composed%primarily%of%Precambrian%gneiss,%which%date%to%approximately%4%billion%years%ago.%%The%geology%is%part%of%the%Laurentian%Upland%province%of%the%Canadian%Shield.%%The%mountains%with%are%located%in%this%national%park%are%some%of%the%tallest%in%Canada,%second%to%the%mountains%in%the%Western%Cordillera.%%The%mountain%building%process%(or%orogeny)%of%these%mountains%did%not%take%place%4%billion%years%ago%when%the%rocks%formed,%rather%occurred%during%the%Innuitian%orogeny%approximately%500%million%years%ago.%%During%this%period,%the%crustal%material%was%folded%and%faulted%due%to%tectonic%processes,%resulting%in%the%formation%of%the%mountain%ranges%of%the%Arctic%Cordillera%and%Torngat%Mountains.%%%Currently%there%are%over%100%active%small%mountain%glaciers%in%the%Torngat%Mountains.%%Separating%the%ranges%of%these%mountains%are%deep%fjords%and%finger%lakes.%%Shown%in%the%photo%on%this%slide%is%the%Nachvak%fjord%in%this%mountain%range.%%Along%the%coastline,%vertical%cliffs%rise%from%the%sea%upwards%of%600%meters.%%These%cliffs%have%been%wind%and%waveMscoured%revealing%the%geological%pattern%that%formed%these%mountain%ranges.%%%Slide%12:%The%vegetation%in%the%Torngat%Mountains%National%Park%is%limited%to%shrubs%and%wildflowers%–%no%real%forest%exists%in%the%park.%%Raised%beaches%and%terraces%are%covered%in%sedge%and%grass%meadows,%while%lowMgrowing%arctic%tundra%shrubs%are%found%in%rocky%headlands%and%valleys.%%The%richest%vegetation%is%found%along%streams%and%in%coastal%meadows.%%The%poorest%is%found%on%boulder%fields%and%dry%rock%outcrops.%%The%rolling%highlands%are%typically%covered%in%berry%plants%such%as%mountain%cranberry,%crowberry%and%bearberry.%%As%one%moves%farther%north%in%the%park,%the%vegetation%becomes%shorter%and%less%diverse%due%to%a%shorter%growing%season%and%cooler%temperatures.%%%The%vegetation%has%adapted%to%take%advantage%of%the%short%summer%growing%season%by%growing,%flowering%and%producing%seeds%fast.%%To%take%advantage%of%the%warm,%they%tend%to%remain%close%to%the%ground.%%%%Slide%13:%This%national%park%lies%along%the%annual%migration%route%of%many%species.%%In%the%spring,%a%number%of%mammal%and%bird%species%moves%northward,%while%in%the%winter%these%species%migrate%southward.%%For%instance%the%Torngat%Mountain%caribou%return%from%their%wintering%grounds,%with%wolves%in%toe.%%Black%bears%will%also%emerge%from%their%dens%in%the%spring%after%a%long%sixMmonth%hibernation.%%Seals%and%whales%can%be%found%along%the%bays%and%fjords%found%along%the%coast,%migrating%with%the%seasonal%evolution%of%food%sources%and%sea%ice.%%Two%species%that%remain%in%the%area%all%year%round%are%the%Arctic%hares%and%rock%ptarmigan.%%%%%%% Page%|%5%%%Slide%14:%The%second%national%park%we%will%be%discussing%is%the%Wapusk%National%Park.%This%national%park%is%located%in%the%Hudson%Bay%Lowlands%in%the%Canadian%Shield%(as%shown%on%the%map%on%the%slide).%%It%was%established%in%1996%to%protect%the%natural%polar%bear%maternity%denning%area.%%The%western%Hudson%Bay%polar%bear%population%is%one%of%a%few%of%the%19%polar%bear%populations%in%the%Canadian%Arctic%to%utilize%landMbased%maternity%dens.%%Due%to%climate%change%pressures,%this%park%is%attempting%to%protect%this%area.%%Further%discussion%on%this%is%provided%in%the%supplementary%information%that%accompanies%this%unit.%%%%Slide%15:%Wapusk%National%Park%is%a%coastal%area%with%salt%marshes,%dunes%and%beaches.%%The%inland%part%of%the%park%is%composed%of%continuous%permafrost%overlain%by%peat.%%It%has%one%of%the%world’s%largest%expanses%of%peat,%produced%by%slow%decomposition%of%organic%material%at%the%surface.%%Peat%covers%approximately%27%%of%the%area%of%the%national%park%Glacial%processes%have%also%influenced%the%park.%%As%discussed%in%a%previous%unit%within%this%module,%this%area%is%one%of%the%last%areas%to%be%covered%by%the%glacial%ice%of%the%Pleistocene%glaciation.%%The%removal%of%the%ice%approximately%9000%years%ago%has%resulted%in%continual%isostatic%rebound%up%to%the%present%and%therefore%producing%a%geologically%young%landscape.%%Other%glacial%depositional%features%are%also%present%in%this%park,%such%as%eskers%and%moraines.%%Slide%16:%The%park%is%located%in%a%transition%between%boreal%forest%and%Arctic%tundra%and%therefore%is%not%dominated%by%forest%cover.%%It%is%home%to%over%1000%species%of%plants%including%purple%saxifrage,%mountain%avens%and%Lapland%rosebay.%%In%the%summer%berries%are%abundant%in%the%park,%including%cranberries,%blueberries,%cloudberries%and%raspberries.%%Slide%17:%Various%bird%and%mammals%species%exist%in%the%park.%%Snow%geese%can%be%found%flying%or%grazing%on%the%vegetation%in%the%park.%%The%population%of%the%snow%geese%has%been%increasing%in%the%park.%%Other%species%of%birds%found%within%the%park%including%Ivory%gull,%Caspian%tern,%peregrine%falcon%and%great%grey%owl.%%Mammals%within%the%park%include%arctic%foxes,%wolves%and%hares.%%The%beach%ridges%found%in%the%park%are%important%winterMfeeding%grounds%for%the%Cape%Churchill%caribou%herd.%%These%caribou%also%use%the%northeastern%section%of%the%park%as%calving%grounds%in%the%spring.%%Polar%bears,%as%already%discussed,%utilize%the%park.%Pregnant%females%will%construct%dens%to%give%birth%in%the%interior%peatlands%in%the%park,%while%other%bears%will%come%ashore%when%the%ice%breaksMup%in%western%Hudson%Bay.%%%%%% Page%|%6%%%Slide%18:%This%concludes%the%human%aspects%unit%and%the%module%examining%the%Canadian%Shield%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%Canadian%Shield%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%Great%Lakes%–%St.%Lawrence%Lowlands,%the%smallest%physiographic%region%in%Canada.%%%