2+Montane+Cordillera



**__Introduction and Map of Ecozone__**
The Montene Cordillera is Canada's most varied ecozone. Known for its beautiful scenery, lush forests and many mountain ranges including the Rocky Mountains. It has long, cold winters and short warm summers. The total amount of precipitation received depends on whether you are on the leeward or windward side of the mountains. This ecozone contains mainly sedimentary rock and has calcified soil. Many tourists visit this unique ecozone every year!

**__Landform Regions__**
The Montane Cordillera is in the Western Cordillera landform region and covers most of southern British Columbia and some of southeastern Alberta. Its landforms are mainly mountains, plains, plateaus and valleys. There are many mountains, which were formed by faulted sedimentary rock. Plains, plateaus and valleys were created by glacial creases or naturally left behind by ancient lakes. With an area of 474 753 km² the ecozone covers about half of the Western Cordillera. Some well-known mountains ranges in the Montane Cordillera are the Rocky and the Columbia Mountain Ranges. Valleys and plateaus separate the Rocky Mountains that were formed by folded and faulted sedimentary rock. The Columbia Mountains were created by uplifting from under the surface and folding of igneous rock. Volcanic eruptions, many years ago, caused lava to flow and form deep rivers. Major rivers and valleys in the ecozone include the Fraser River, Columbia River, Creston Valley and Okanagan Valley.



__Vegetation and Soil__
 The Montane Cordillera is located in the Cordilleran Vegetation region. Most of this ecozone is considered to be a wetter location. About three quarters of the area of the ecozone are forests with an enormous variation of vegetation depending on the elevation.

The main type of tree are Coniferous trees. There are three forest zones in the mountain areas, leading into the plateaus and valleys. The first zone has Lodgepole Pines, Engelmann Spruces, and Alpine Firs. The second zone has Douglas Firs, Trembling Aspens, Ponderosa Pines and Logepole Pines. Then the third zone has western White Pines, Hemlocks and Red Cedars, and also inner Douglas Firs. Also a small part of the vegetation is in the far southwest. There isn't enough moisture for large trees, so there are shrubs and grasses. The most common shrubs are the rabbit-brush and antelope-brush.

 The soils in this area are a variety of mountain soils and therefore this ecozone is in the Complex Mountain soil region. In the wetter areas, which are most of this ecozone, there is a typical soil profile. But in the far southwest there is a typical dry climate soil profile, where calcification (poor acidic soils) is the dominant process. The growing season in Montane Cordillera varies from 140 to 240 days depending in which areas you are in. There isn't a lot of farming in the ecozone, but there are some beef and other livestock farms as well as farms growing crops. Forestry is a more significant activity than farming.



 Within the Montane Cordillera you can find sedimentary rock, igneous rock and metamorphic rock. Sedimentary rock is the most common and accounts for 57.12% of the rock in this ecozone. The second most popular rock is igneous rock (38.10%) and then finally metamorphic rock (2.81%).

The sedimentary rock was formed in the Mezozoic and Cenozoic geological eras. The sediments were formed when the Canadian Shield was eroded and weathered down. The sediments were then compacted and compressed to form sedimentary rock that eventually faulted creating the mountains.

Both metallic and non-metalic minerals are mined in the Montane Cordillera as well as fossil fuels. Examples of metallic minerals mined include copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc. Non-metallic minerals such as gypsum and barite are also found in this ecozone. Coal is mined and one of the biggest coal mining towns in the Montane Cordillera is Sparwood, BC.



**__Climate and Climograph__**
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;"> The Montane Cordillera is in the Cordillera climate region and has a continental climate. This ecozone is affected by latitude, ocean currents, winds and air masses, elevation, relief and in some areas closeness to water. All these factors affect temperature and the level of precipitation. The temperatures do not get extremely hot or cold but vary with elevation and latitude. The Montane Cordillera has a 23.1 degree temperature range.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">The summers are short and warm with an average temperature of 15°C. The winters are longer and colder in the mountain ranges capped with snow, winters are more moderate in the cities. The average winter temperature is -12°C.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">The amount of precipitation varies with the elevation and the physical aspects. In Kamloops, British Columbia, the average yearly amount of precipitation is 277.6mm, and the total amount of snowfall is approximately 54.4cm. The main type of precipitation in this ecozone is Orographic precipitation, shown in the diagram below. The climate in the ecozone is affected by the warm North Pacific Ocean Current.

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">**__Tourism__**
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;"> This ecozone is a great destination for tourists and the tourism industry contributes greatly to the economy. From winter sports to arts and crafts tourists can do it all. Many people travel to the Montane Cordillera to see the towering mountains and participate in many sports activities. With so many mountains this ecozone is a great destination for skiers and snowboarders. The 2010 Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver and that brought many people to this area and helped to build this industry.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">The Montane Cordillera also contains lots of national parks including Jasper National Park, Banff National Park and Glacier National Park. Tourists are attracted to these national parks to see the beautiful scenery and attractions such as The Rocky Mountains along with wildlife, such as woodland caribou, mule deer and bighorn sheep. Tourism looks like it will have a positive future as many people will continue to travel to this ecozone and its many attractions.

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">__**Ecozone's Future**__
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">This ecozone looks like it is going to potentially have a negative future. Most of the major business industries rely on the natural resources in this ecozone. Eventually the natural resources such as lumber and coal will be depleted. This ecozone is not very environmentally friendly because many trees are being cut down and it is not developing sustainably.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">As the natural resources deplete many jobs will be lost and the economy will suffer, because the biggest employment sector has to do with these natural resources. However the economy will continue to benefit from tourism. Many people will still come to the Montane Cordillera to ski and see the towering mountains.



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">__**Fun Facts**__

 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"> The regions landform have gone through **major changes** in the last **__15,000 years__**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"> There are more than **6 National Parks of Canada** located in **__this ecozone__**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">About **__5%__** of Canada is in this ecozone
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"> Some well known cities in this ecozone are **Kelowna**, **Kamloops,** and **Prince George**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">__**Trivia**__
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">__**Questions:**__ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">1. What are the Montane Cordillera’s landforms?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">2. How were the Rocky Mountains formed?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">3.What precipitation does this ecozone mainly get? Why?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">4. The annual precipitation in the hot like desert climate area get well below: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">a) 200mm <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">b) 100mm <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">c) 500mm <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">d) 1000mm

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">5. In the Columbia Mountain area how were deep rivers formed? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">a) Folded igneous rock <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">b) Faulted sedimentary rock <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">c) Uplifted metamorphic rock <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">d) Lava Flow

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">__**Answers:**__ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">1. There are mountains, plains, plateaus and valleys <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">2. The Rocky Mountains were formed by folded sedimentary rock. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">3. The main type of precipitation is orographic because there are many mountains. The mountains force the air to rise up making it condense. When it condences it then cannot hold as much moisture and so therefore it then rains on the windward side of the mountain. It can then lover in elevation and can hold more moisture so it does not rain in the leeward side of the mountain. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">4. 500mm <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">5. Lava flow

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 115%;">__**Sources**__
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