4+Atlantic+Maritime

Canada is large country that is made up of many different ecozones. An ecozone is a distinct geographical area determined by the physical, biological and human factors. Out of the 15 unique ecozones in Canada, the Atlantic Maritime region is one of the most important and also the most interesting. This ecozone has crucial industries, a captivating climate and also significant soil qualities. The Atlantic Maritime ecozone is very unique and it differs greatly from the ecozones that surround it. 


 * Landform Region **

The Atlantic Maritime ecozone includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and parts of Quebec. It is in the Appalachian mountain landform region. The Atlantic Maritime ecozone has many unique land features. One of those features are the Appalachian highlands, which consist of hills covered in coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as exposed rock formations. These hills used to be tall mountains, but have eroded over time. These mountains were formed by faulting in the late Paleozoic era. The lowlands have fertile soils which are very good for agricultural uses. The Atlantic Maritime ecozone also borders the Atlantic ocean, which is home to many fish and creates a large employment opputunity. The Atlantic Maritime ecozone has many landforms that are necessary to support the lifestyle of the locals and the economy of the entire country.


 * Rocks and Minerals **

The Atlantic Maritime ecozone contains rocks that are essential for many different businesses and contributes  to Canada's wide variety of natural resources. This ecozone consists of two different parts; the highlands and the lowlands. These parts differ greatly in the rocks and minerals that they contain. The highlands are a mix of sedimentary and igneous rock. One example is granite which is used for counters and vanities. The lowlands are made of sedimentary rocks. Limestone is one example. This limestone is used as a construction material and is also to make cement. Another rock feature in this ecozone is the Red Sandstone Cliffs near the Bay of Fundy which are a great tourist destination. All  these different rock types are essential to know about the Atlantic Maritime ecozone.


 * Vegetation and Soils[[image:forest.jpg width="480" height="314" align="right" caption="Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia"]] **

In the Atlantic Maritime ecozone, 90% of the land is forests, and 9% is farmland. Being part of the wet-climate soils region, it proves that the soil is incredibly fertile, especially in small rural areas where forestry is the only or main source of employment. Due to the soil being so suited for agriculture, Prince Edward Island is often referred to as "the Garden of Gulf". The healthy soil allows the locals to produce potatoes, grain and dairy products. The growing season is 180-210 days. The soil can be described as “silty” and stone free. The soils of this ecozone go through the process of leaching. This ecozone is located mostly in the Mixed Forest vegetation region. Only a small part of it is in the Boreal and Taiga region. The Atlantic Maritime ecozone has a longer history of forestry than anywhere else in Canada. The large variety of trees from both the deciduous and coniferous family insures a healthy balance and lots of humus, particularly in the lowlands. In concern of soil and vegetation there is a significant amount of biodiversity in the Atlantic Maritime Region


 * Climate **

The climate in the Atlantic Maritime differs greatly depending on where you are in the ecozone. This area is mostly part of the Atlantic Maritime climate region but also makes up small parts of the Boreal and Southeastern regions. The whole ecozone is affected by the Atlantic Ocean which causes warmer winters and cooler summers then the rest of Canada. Within the ecozone the coastal cities tend to have warmer winters and colder summers than the inland cities because they are closer to the water. The range of the temperature is 29.05°C. This is a maritime climate. The close proximity with the ocean causes a lot of cool, moist air from air currents. The inland areas can get 900mm of precipitation per year while the coastal cities can get more than 1500mm of precipitation in one year! Cyclonic precipitation is most common in this area. This ecozone has more storms than anywhere in the country. Most of this precipitation falls in the form of rain and snow. Another significant aspect of the climate happens during the late spring/early summer when the cold Labrador Current mixes with the warm Gulf Stream. It creates sea fog over the coastal cities of this ecozone.


 * Fun Facts **


 * The Atlantic Maritime Ecozone takes up 2 percent of Canada’s area
 * 75 percent of the fish caught in Canada comes from the Atlantic Maritime ecozone
 * More than three quarters of the ecozone is forested
 * There are more storms in this ecozone than any other in Canada
 * More than 25 large scale wind farms are located in the Atlantic Maritime ecozone
 * The white spruce tree is one of few that can tolerate salt water. This allows it to[[image:mrnagribianko-ecozones/olive_ridley_sea_turtle_1.jpg width="199" height="171" align="right" caption="Ridley Sea Turtle"]] survive on the Atlantic coast.
 * The Atlantic ocean is home to the smallest of all sea turtles (Ridley sea turtle)
 * 50% of the 2.5 million population lives in the rural areas
 * Lobster is a very popular dish in the area
 * Black bears, lynx and bobcats are the only large carnivores found in this ecozone
 * There are more than 900 km of cross-country trails

media type="youtube" key="0N7BgY-OnO8" height="315" width="420" align="left" The Atlantic Maritime ecozone is a unique area for several reasons. It has incredibly distinctive landform regions, and rocks and minerals that provide materials for many companies. The vegetation and soil is well suited for agricultural purposes. The climate is ideal and it is a generally amazing area for anyone looking for a place to visit or live. These features make the Atlantic Maritime ecozone a wonderful and also very interesting place.

Source: wickedstylewhite (2011, July 25th). New Brunswick Scenery. //Youtube.// Retrieved October 27th, 2011, from []


 * Trivia Questions **

**I. _**is a very popular dish in the Atlantic Maritime ecozone. ** a. ** Spaghetti ** b. ** Lobster ** c. ** Apple Pie ** d. ** Pizza

**II.** What is a large industry in this ecozone ** a. ** Fishing ** b. ** Car sales ** c. ** Forestry ** d. ** Both A and B ** e. ** None of the above

**III.** What types of trees can be found in this area?

**IV.** Describe the landforms of this ecozone.

**V.** Name one use for the rocks and minerals found in the ecozone.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">**Sources**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**1.** Clark, Bruce, John Wallace, and Kim Earle. //Marking Connections Canada's Geography//. 2nd ed. Don <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> Mills, Ontario: Pearson Education Canada, 2006. 118-75. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**2.** Stanford, Quentin H. Canadian Oxford School Atlas. 8th ed. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2004. 20-22. Print

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**3.** Mcgill University.Atlantic Maritime. C//anadianBiodiversity.// Retrieved October 24, 2011 from <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> Limited, 2011.4-32.print
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">4. **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Morrison,Jessica A. //Canadian Ecozones, Maritmes//. Calgary, Alberta: Weigl Educational Publishers


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Copyright ©Taylor Legere and Arsilda Rexha**