Vegetation+and+Soil

Vegetation and Soil   Soil in the Boreal Cordillera consists of two types: Tundra and Boreal forest. Tundra occurs mostly on the mountain tops because of the drier soil. The dry soil results in various fungi growing such as moss, lichen and algae. In the valleys between the mountains is where the large vegetation grows. Agriculture can be sustained in this part of the Boreal Cordillera because of the rich soil. Soil may not appear very nutritious because of the lighter top soil, but the nutrients are maintained in the depths of the soil. The soil is very rich because of all the organic matter and minerals running off from the mountains. The Boreal Cordillera is known for some of the largest trees. The types of trees that grow in the Boreal Cordillera are white spruce, alpine fir, trembling aspen, white birch and lodgepole pine. The majority of the trees in our Eco-zone are coniferous. The coniferous trees make the soil very acidic because of the acidic pine needles that shed.  Climate

The Boreal cordillera is a maritime location. It experiences a wind tunnel because It’s at the beginning of the jet stream. There are long cold winters getting at -20 degrees Celsius. The summers are short and stay relatively cool at an average of 12 degrees Celsius. Rainfall in the boreal shield occurs very little. In an average year there is 300 to 500 mm of precipitation, 100 to 300cm of snowfall yearly and about five to ten thunderstorms per year.



Fun Facts

The most urbanized city in the Boreal Shield is Whitehorse. It has a population of 23,272. The boreal Shield also include 4 major mining areas, 6 areas of epicentre and one of Canada’s National Parks called The Kluane. Our eco-zone was mainly developed in the Precambrian Era. Some of the eco-zones native birds include the willow, rock tailed ptarmigan, white tailed ptarmigan and the spruce grouse. More native animals to the land are woodland caribou, moose, Dall’s sheep, mountain goat, black bear, grizzly bear and marten lynx.