Part 1: Paper Prospectus Compose a brief, structured, first draft plan of your paper. It should have the various sections of the paper highlighted (i.e. introduction, conclusion, body, etc.), as well

Mashiat Islam (7884883)

Module 5 Summary (Geog 3760) 4

Geology and Topography

The Canadian Shield underlies over half of Canada and is the oldest and most stable part of the North American continent, dating back over 2.5 billion years to the Precambrian era. The region is composed of five smaller provinces defined by their distinct rock types and terrains. The provinces include the Laurentian Uplands in southern Quebec, characterized by rolling hills and mountains up to 1000 meters high. The Davis Highlands form rugged coastal plateaus over 700 meters in elevation along the Arctic coast. The Kazan Upland lies west of Hudson Bay and contains low rolling hills of 220 to 400 meters, with patches of glacial sediment. The sprawling James province spans northern Ontario and Quebec with alternating bands of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Finally, the low-lying Hudson Bay Lowlands extend beneath Hudson Bay, underlain by flat-lying sedimentary beds.

Various topographic features shape the landscape within the Canadian Shield. Prominent mountain ranges such as the Torngat and Laurentian Mountains were formed over a billion years ago yet still tower over 1000 meters in elevation. Ancient volcanic belts, some over 600 million years old, have been deformed and eroded yet still influence mineral deposits throughout the region. The immense Blake River megacaldera complex in Ontario represents multiple overlapping caldera collapses nearly 3 billion years ago. Other landmarks include the oddly striking Sutton Ridges that rise abruptly from the flat Hudson Bay coastal plain. Underlying the entire Shield are pieces of continental crust termed Archean terranes, accreted together nearly 2 billion years ago in a massive mountain building event to form the geologic foundation of this region.

Climate and Glaciers

The Canadian Shield has three main climate types due to its large north-south extent - a subarctic climate in the north, characterized by very cold winters and cool summers, a moist continental climate in the south, and a tundra climate in the far north. During the last glacial period, a thick ice sheet up to 2000 meters cover the entire Shield region. As the ice retreated about 8,000 years ago, isostatic rebound caused the drainage of proglacial lakes and formation of features like the Tyrrell Sea over Hudson Bay. Glacial erosion deeply modified watersheds and created over 10,000 lake basins across the Shield. Retreating glaciers deposited landforms such as eskers, moraines, and drumlins. Today, the region is characterized by thin, discontinuous soils with much exposed bedrock, reflecting its recent glacial history. The climate varies spatially from subarctic to continental to tundra, while glaciation has strongly influenced the Shield's landscape and hydrology over the past 10,000 years through erosional and depositional processes.

Soils Flora and Fauna

The four main ecozones - Taiga Shield, Boreal Shield, Hudson Plains, and Southern Arctic - each have distinct characteristics influenced by their geography and climate. The Taiga Shield and Boreal Shield are underlain by ancient Precambrian granite and contain podzolic, brunisolic, and cryosolic soils. Both support coniferous boreal forests of black spruce and jack pine, as well as wetlands. Wildlife includes moose, caribou, wolves, and migratory birds. The Hudson Plains is a flat coastal plain with organic soils, sedges, and sparse woodlands inland. It provides nesting for waterfowl and habitat for inland/marine mammals. The Southern Arctic is dominated by permafrost and cryosolic soils, limiting vegetation to low shrubs and tundra plants. Its harsh climate supports muskox, wolf, and bird species that migrate seasonally. Though varied, all ecozones exemplify the region's geological heritage and influence of the subarctic/arctic climate, with characteristic soils, vegetation and adapted wildlife populations in each.

Human Aspects

The Canadian Shield region provides important natural resources that have shaped human activity and development. Forestry is a major industry, harvesting over 400,000 hectares annually from the vast boreal forests for pulp, paper and lumber. Mining has had a substantial economic impact, as the Precambrian rocks are rich in metals like copper, gold, nickel and uranium. Over 140 active mining sites exist today. Hydroelectric power generation also utilizes the abundant surface waters, with projects like James Bay among the largest. Historically, the fur trade was an early economic driver, exploiting beaver and other pelts that first encouraged exploration and settlement. National parks were later established to protect ecological areas, with six located in the Shield highlighting varied terrain from the Torngat and Hudson Bay coastal regions. The Shield's natural resources have long supported forestry, mining and other industries while parks aim to preserve biodiversity within this geologically ancient region.