The Canadian Shield (also referred to as the Laurentian Plateau or Bouclier Canadien in French) makes up almost half of Canada’s total area since it extends from Labrador through to northern Quebec, Ontario, eastern and Northern Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan and the very northeast corner of Alberta where it plunges under the plains and mountains (Schwartzenberger, 6). This gigantic geological shield is highest at the periphery and lowest at the center around Hudson Bay. A thin layer of soil covers the eight million square kilometers area (Willis, para.2). The thin soil lies on top of igneous rocks that date back to the Precambrian period (between 4.5 billion and 540 million years ago). The deep, widespread linked bedrock region relates to its volcanic history. While the majority of the population is concentrated in the southern central part, the population in the northern area of the shield is scarce and scattered. Even though the area has the capacity to produce hydroelectric power, only a few industries can be found there.
The Canadian Shield is “a physiographic division, consisting of five smaller provinces, the Laurentian Upland, Kazan Region, Davis, Hudson, and James” (“Physiographic Regions Map”, 1). The shield enlarges into the U.S. as the Adirondack Mountains. The Frontenac Axis and the Superior Upland connect it as it enters the U.S. The region is characterized by several rounded and uncovered areas of rocks that are millions of years old, many angular lakes, marshy surfaces, and a drainage system that is disorderly. This makes it to be U-shaped, but nearly semi-circular. Therefore, it appears as a warrior’s shield or as a huge doughnut. The thin soils were created due to glacial erosion. The many angular lakes and marshy surfaces in the region are due to the watersheds of the area that have not matured and are still sorting themselves out coupled with the effect of post-glacial rebound.
Isolated areas of the shield are covered by Jackpine forests (“The Canadian Shield Region,” para.3). These have distinct undergrowth comprising of several species of pale reindeer lichens, dusty green sage as well as bearberry, and enormous sand dune landscapes grade into the pine forest. The sand dunes enable unique plant species that are not found elsewhere in the province to exist in this region and the granite rocks and the brilliant sand beaches that are found in the region extend starting from Fidler Point to other places. Because the shield has a poor climate, most of the land slopes steeply, and lacks adequate drainage, there are no extensive agricultural activities taking place in the region. The scarce vegetation that is mainly present in the area is rooted in the rocks.
In spite of the agricultural limitations, the northern part of the shield has vast natural resources such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, and diamonds, and the region is a collection of Archean plates, accreted juvenile arc terrenes, and sedimentary basins of Proterozoic age. It is believed that they were increasingly amalgamated during the interval of 2.45 to 1.24 Ga. The Canadian Shield is the largest region on the planet that has exposed Archaean rock with highly extensive geological features. The area has varying climates and it can receive an estimated amount of forty-five centimeters of rainfall every year. The northern region mainly has long and very cold winters, gets more snow, and has the shortest summers.
Works cited
“Physiographic Regions Map.” The Atlas of Canada. 2007. Web.
Schwartzenberger, Tina. The Canadian Shield. Calgary : Weigl Educational Publishers, 2006.
“The Canadian Shield Region.” Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Heritage Community Foundation. N.d. Web.
Willis, Bill. “The Canadian Shield.” Social studies. Worsley School. 1997. Web.