1+Atlantic+Maritime

=__Atlantic Maritime__=



__**Introduction**__ Welcome to the Atlantic Maritmes, home to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Gaspe region of Quebec, also home to over 2.5 million people who live in this region! The Atlantic Maritime ecozone also has great areas for tourism!


 * __Landform__**

TheLandform region The Atlantic Maritimes is mostly in the **Appalachian Mountain Region.** Thisecozone is known to be the oldest highland region in North America, as it formedabout 3 million years ago. In the late Palaeozoic era, when Pangaea wasforming, North America collided with Europe and Northern Africa. When thesecontinents collided, land uplifted and folded creating the Appalachian MountainRegion. This process involved so much heat and pressure that almost the entiremountain region was made up of metamorphic rock. Volcanic activity as well as faulting also contributed to the significant levels of metamorphic rock in the Appalachianmountain region. During this time, this range of mountains had jagged peaks,which, over millions of years, have eroded into tall, rolling hills. Glaciationcontributed to the erosion of the mountains in the time of ice ages. The Appalachiansgave way to the weight of the glaciers that grinded them down in a slowprocess, and when the glaciers melted, they formed glacial valleys thatseparate the mountains to this day.The melting of the glaciers also createdbays that were used as deep hurlocks for ocean freighters. Since a significant amount of the mountain has been eroded off, the mountain ranges are now mostly made up of Sedimentary Rock.



= Climate = The Atlantic Martime ecozone is mostly in the **southeastern climate region.**

Precipitation, Temperature Ranges, and air masses
The average winter temperature ranges from -2 C to -8 C. The average summer temperature varies in different areas of the Atlantic Maritime Region from 13 C to 15.5 C. New Brunswick's climate is influenced by moist Atlantic air masses coming from the Bay of Fundy and humid air masses that come from "The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands" landform region. These moist and humid winds bring moist climates and precipitation, which is why it rains so often in this ecozone. Areas further away from the coastal shores of this ecozone experience warm, hot, humid summers andcloser to the shoreline will have a maritime climate which consists of cool summers and mild winters. It is also common for fog to form near coastal areas.The sheet of ice covering the Gulf of St. Lawrence also cause cooler temperatures as well as a later spring. Prince Edwards island, climate on the other hand has the strongest maratime influence between the four provinces that live in this eco zone.Pei recives mild winters modertaley windy summers, as well as late cool springs.July's daily average temperature is 18 C, meanwhile, January's daily average temperature ranges from -10 C to -25.

Which factors affect climate?
Factors that affect climate are: Near Water, Winds and Air Masses and Relief. The Atlantic Ocean affects climate because areas further away from the coastal shores of this ecozone experience warm, hot, humid summers and area's closer to the shoreline will have a maritime climate which consists of cool summers and mild winters. It is also common for fog to form near coastal areas. Since Nova Scotia as a whole is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, it's climate is constantly under the influence of the Ocean. Air masses that move off the Atlantic Ocean and onto Nova Scotia and other provinces in this ecozone will bring moist temperatures and cause precipitation. This is why **areas near water have higher levels of precipitation**. The **average annual precipitation levels range from 1000-1425 mm** along coastal areas of the Atlantic Maritime Region. Springs and summers will be cooler than the climates of Spring and Summer's in in area's further away from interior sites. The Applachian Mountains also affect the climate in The Atlantic Maritime Ecozone aswell. In this ecozone, when moist air rises up a mountain, it cools as it rises into Orographic Clouds. The moisture in the air condenses into precipitation and most of the rain falls onto the windward side of the mountain while little falls on the leeward side. This affects the climate of this ecozone. Due to relief it precitpates often in this ecozone. The most common type of precipitation in this ecozone is Orographic precipitation because relief on mountains (which are spread all along this ecozone) cause orographic precipitation.



Climate Graph

Vegetation and Soil
The soil region that The Atlantic region is mostly in is the "Wet Climates soils". The vegetation that this ecozone is mostly in is the Mixed Forest.

What is the Natural Vegetation?
The Atlantic Maritimes region is best known for it's potatoes grown in Prince Edward Island. Infact, in Prince Edward Island alone, 89 000 acres of land are used to grow potatoes alone! Shrubs, including junipers, grow in forests during harsh climates created by cool winds by the coast. The mean annual growing season is 180 days.

Forestry
The forestry in the Atlantic Maritimes Region is from the Mixed forest consisting of both deciduous and coniferous trees. Some tree types in this forest include Maple, Beech, Ash, Oak, Birch, Spruce, Fir, Pine, cedar and hemlock. The mixed forest transitions tree's from the boreal vegetation region and trees from the Tagia vegetation regions. The lumbering industry is active in this ecozone because the large variety of different tree types helps this industry produce different products using different types of lumbering wood from the trees. However, only a small area of this forest remains as most of it diminished during deforestation for industries, agriculture and urbanization ( cutting trees to build homes and create transportation routes). This forestry can live and strive through cold winter seasons and warm summers. **Soil type** The soil here is rich,healthy soil, enriched with nutrients and minerals. This is because, when leaves fall and get broken down by bacteria, it turns into a substance called Humas that enrichens the soil. The humas here is especially beneficial to the soil because it originates from leaves of many different tree types which makes it rich in minerals. It also stores water, which helps prevent leaching from occuring so that minerals in nutrients remain in soil, it rich and healthy.



Agriculture
Active agricultural production occuring in this ecozone includes: dairy and cattle farming, poultry production, fruit and vegetable growing, fishing, forestry and tourism.

and Minerals
The Appalaichain Mountain ranges are made up of igneous and sediementary rock. The minerals found in sedimentary rock are non-metalic, including coal, salt, and natural gas. Meanwhile, the minerals found in igneous rock are metalic minreals including cooper, lead, zinc, and sliver. Hard Igneous rock is found at the bottom of the range of mountains where area's are havy in forestry. Lowland caostal area's are also composted of Sedimentary rock.



**Tourism**
Tourist Attractions In this ecozone: - Confederation Bridge (Bridge that connects Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) - Green Gables House (Prince Edward Island) - Rock Formations located at Hopewell Cate (Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick)



= F u n F a c t s =

4. Animals found in this ecozone include Striped Skunk,Moose, Red Fox,and muskrat
= =

= Ecozone's Future = In the future, I predict that the amount of forestry in the Atlantic Maritimes Ecozone will decrease as the years go by. I believe this because each year population increases, which means that as more people are born into this area, more needs will need to be met. I predict that needs, including more homes being built and more transportation routes being produced will have to be met and can only be met if trees are cut down to provide space to do this. Lumbering industries also contributes to deforestation because the variety of trees is excellent for their industry. This is why I predict that in the future the forestry will continue decreasing due to its loss of resources. The production of putting the lumber wood into products like paper, requires factories to be built, which I believe they will be in this ecozone because since the atlantic ocean is very close to all provinces in this ecozone, these factories will release their pollution into the water. This pollution will decrease our water quality and our quality of life.

[[image:mixed_forest_2.jpg width="577" height="360"]]
= = =Trivia =

MLA style Bibliography
 Natural Resources Canada, []
 * Images: **

Worldweb.com, Atlantic Canada Tourism Guide & Visitor Guide, []

Canadian Wildlife Federation, Striped Skunk, []

Kyle Dains, Atlantic Maritimes, http://ecozone-experts.wikispaces.com/Atlantic+Maritime, Wikispaces, 22/10/11

The Atlantic Maritimes tour, [], Nova Scotia Travels, 22/10/11

Masterfile, Autumn Colours, Gatineau Park, Quebec []

Bay of Fundy Vote, []

 Wallpapers Free, Coniferous Forest At Night Rain, []

From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007,Chapter 4 - Atlantic Canada, [], Natural Resources Canada, 22/10/11
 * Information : **

Bruce W. Clark, John K. Wallace and Kim M. Earle, Making Connections Canada’s Geography Second Edition 2006

Statistics Canada,The Land, [|http://www.statcan.gc.ca/kits-trousses/cyb-adc1999/ecozone/edu04_0092c-eng.htm#section12] Natural Resources Canada, Ecozones in Canada Teacher Resource Centre- Atlantic Maritime Ecozone, [|http://www.pc.gc.ca/apprendre-learn/prof/itm2-crp-trc/htm/ecozone04_e.asphttp://www.pc.gc.ca/apprendre-learn/prof/itm2-crp-trc/htm/ecozone04_e.asp],

Parks Canada, 22/10/11, Appalaichian Mountains, [], Updated in 2004