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 6 Summary (Geog 3760) 5

Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands

Geology and Topography

This module covers the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands physiographic region of Canada, which accounts for 1.4% of the country. Despite its small size of 1.4%, it is critical for individuals and natural resources, as it is home to half of the Canadian population. The region is divided into two major areas: the Great Lakes Lowlands and the Interior Plains.

The Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Falls, and the Frontenac Axis distinguish the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowland region. The St. Lawrence Lowlands, which stretch from Quebec City to Brockville, Ontario, are comparable to the Great Lakes Lowlands but were produced through faulting and glacial processes. The Niagara Escarpment, which stretches 725 kilometers from New York State to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, is one of the region's most prominent characteristics. The Niagara Falls, produced by glacial erosion, is one of the world's biggest waterfalls and a UNESCO World Biosphere reserve. The Frontenac Axis, a wedge of the Canadian Shield developed over a billion years ago, is responsible for Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands.

The Monteregian Hills, a group of nine isolated mountains, are located in the St. Lawrence Lowlands region. These hills are made of Cretaceous intrusive igneous rock that was created by a hotspot more than 100 million years ago. The region also has around 35,000 islands, including Manitoulin Island, the Toronto Islands, and the Thousand Islands. The Great Lakes, which include Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, are the world's largest freshwater system, accounting for over 18% of the total supply. The Great Lakes formed nearly a billion years ago when two tectonic plates drifted apart, forming basins for Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. The Laurentide glacier from the last ice age affected the creation of the Great Lakes even more.

Climate and Glaciers

The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands physiographic region in Canada is characterized by a single major climatic type, Dfb, a wet continental climate. Because to its location near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, this region receives significant humidity. The region is the southernmost in Canada, resulting in moderate temperatures. Weather is unpredictable, particularly in the winter, due to mild temperatures and heavy humidity. Hamilton and Montreal see different monthly changes, with temperatures dropping below 0 for six months. Dfa climates, or moist continental hot summer climates, are uncommon but can be found in limited places.

Throughout the Pleistocene Epoch, the Great Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, and Niagara Falls were all shaped by substantial glaciation in Canada's St. Lawrence Lowlands. The Champlain Sea, produced as glacial ice receded and evaporated, covered southern Ontario, Quebec, New York, and Vermont. The region's landscape includes glacial till, drumlins, moraines, and tunnel valleys. The Scarborough Bluffs, a 15-kilometer-long bluff, constitute Lake Iroquois's shoreline. Drumlins are found throughout the sand and limestone plains, whereas moraines define the utmost extent of glacial progress. The massive Oak Ridges moraine, spanning 1900 square kilometers, is a product of glacial erosion. Tunnel valleys, built following the last glacial maximum, function as subglacial drainage pathways and can form lakes. The St. Lawrence River, an estuary, formed following the last glacial maximum.

Soils Flora and Fauna

This module looks at the soils, plants, and animals of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands physiographic region in Canada. The region is surrounded by three Great Lakes and extends from Windsor to Quebec City along the St. Lawrence littoral. The Mixedwood Plains Ecozone, Canada's smallest terrestrial ecozone, is distinguished by sedimentary rock, marine clay deposits, and level terrain. The region is densely inhabited and under intense strain from agriculture and urbanization. The soil types in the region are classified according to area, with luvisolic and brunisolic soils being the most frequent. The remaining natural environment supports endangered and threatened animals, as well as uncommon and endangered plants. Although the vegetation supports a variety of fauna species, many huge mammal species have become extinct. The region is also an important habitat for reptiles, and fish species are declining owing to environmental problems and overfishing.

Human Aspects

This section focuses at the human aspects of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands physiographic region, with a focus on natural resources and national parks. The region is Canada's second largest farming area, with crops covering 70% of the land. Mining, building, and freshwater resources are all important parts of the region. The region contains 20% of the world's fresh water and 95% of North America's fresh surface water as a result of glacier retreat and melt. The St. Lawrence and Niagara rivers are the primary suppliers of hydroelectricity, accounting for 96% of water demand in 2011. Forests generate more than 230 million dollars in Ontario. Fisheries are also important, with over 150 species found throughout the region. The Niagara Tunnel Project enabled the Niagara River to generate more than 150 megawatts of energy in 2011.

Aquaculture and fishing are important sectors in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands physiographic region, with Ontario's commercial aquaculture industry providing $60 million to the province's economy. The region also boasts a substantial fishing tourism business, with over a million recreational anglers enjoying the Great Lakes. National parks, such as Point Pelee National Park, are found in the region, emphasizing the relationship between natural and human settings. The park, which began as a bird refuge, now receives more than 500,000 people every year. The park is mostly made up of marshes and wetlands, with 21% covered by the Carolinian Forest, a temperate deciduous forest. The park is home to more than 350 bird species and sits at the intersection of two main migration routes. The park also provides a temporary home for thousands of migrating monarch butterflies.

Reference

lacozza, J. (2024, February 6), Module 6: GREAT LAKES-ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS. Retrieved from UM Learn: https://universityofmanitoba.desire2learn.com/d21/le/content/567043/Home