3+Boreal+Shield

=__The Boreal Shield!__ =



__**Introduction**__
**We are doing our project on the boreal shield, this is an ecozone in Canada and it is known for it's superb soil, which is affective when growing coniferous trees. Also the boreal shield is known for its vigerous forest fires, acidic soils and short growing seasons.** **The Boreal Shield ecozone has the same characteristics of the Canadian Shield with those of the other global Boreal Forests. It is Canada’s largest ecozone, 1 774 000 km2. This large ecozone covers major cities such as St. John’s, Thunder Bay, and Sudbury.**

__**Landform Region**__
**Since the Boreal Shield covers much of the Canadian Shield, the most common landform is low hills, found mainly in the western part of the ecozone. The eastern part of the Boreal Shield contains numerous large forests, providing economic stability for many cities and towns. The Shield zone spreads over Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of Alberta.**

**__Landforms of the Boreal Shield__**
**1. Canadian Shield Rock** **2. Quartz vein** **3. Glacial striations** **4. Erratic** **5. Fen-bog complex** **6. Rocky hills and morainal debris**
 * Legend **

__**Climate**__
** T he climate of the Boreal Forest is very cold, the summers are 1-3 months and the average temperature is around 10 degrees celcuis. The mean tempature of Boreal Forest it about -5C. The winters average 7 months and very from -5C to -54C. Sources mention that on average there is 50-100 frost days a year in certain areas of the boreal forest. The boreal forest experiences relatively low percipatation per year (200-700mm annually).**

__**Vegetation And Soil**__
**The** b**oreal forest's soil is not like most deciduous forest's soil. It lacks richness in nutrients and it is crusial for healthy vegetation. The thinness of the soil is a result of the cold and harsh winters. Falling pine needles have caused the soil to become acidic which means only some mosses and lichens growing off it. Some common types of trees in the area are birch bark, pine and oak trees.**

__**FUN FACTS!**__
**. The Boreal Shield alternate name is Taiga!** **. The Boreal Forests covers 25 percent of the worlds origanal forests!** **. The Boreal Forest is one of the most intact ecosystems in the world!**
 * . The Boreal provides 80 percent of the worlds freshwater! **



__**Ecozone's Future**__
**The Boreal Shield's marketing industry revolves around the forest's. There are 600,000 jobs incorperated with trees. If the tree popution dies out there will be thousands of jobs lost therefore the boreal will be gone. The boreal forest is 84% trees, and it is also prone to forest fires which over time will slowly decrease the amout of trees in the boreal sheild. Another common reason that the boreal will be affected in the future is because native insects eat the barks of the tree making it weaker and more vulerable to being eaten ferther more or falling down.**

__**Tourism**__
**Only 1% of Saskatchewan’s population is living in the Boreal Shield Ecozone. The Boreal Shield Ecozone is based on its natural resources, which opens up a lot of jobs. Some of these jobs are; mining and forestry are the number one. Then there is fishing followed by agriculture. The Manufacturing sector in the paper industry has employed the largest proportion of surrounding Natural landscapes. Also a relatively diverse wildlife and fish support. Other activities going on include; Aboriginal trapping and hunting, sport hunting and fishing, commercial harvesting activities, and growing an Eco-tourism industry. Big tourism attractions and activities are; sport fishing, canoeing, wildlife viewing, some animals you could see whil on your visit are:** **black bear, deer, moose, rabbits, raccoons, eagles, owls, osprey, ducks, song birds and an untold number of other species** **and eco-tourism. About 3% of the ecozone, is a protected park area, some of the most popular are Lac La Ronge and Clearwater River provincial parks.**

__**Rocks And Minerals**__
**There are many different rocks in the Boreal shield.** ** The Boreal Shield is mainly made up of two rock types: igneous and metamorphic. The bedrock is exposed due to the thin soil, as well as ancient glacial movements, and is composed mainly of granite. The mining industry is large, and minerals such as lead, gold, nickel, copper zinc, and even uranium are abundant, although iron ore makes up 97.5% of the mining industry output. ** **Two thirds of the Boreal shield lays on shield rock.**