5+Hudson+Plains

5 = **Hudson Plains ** =

**Landform, Rocks & Minerals, Vegetation & Soil, Climate, Fun Facts, Sources**
Our ecozone is the Hudson Plains. It is located in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, along the edge of Hudson Bay and James Bay. The major urban areas are Moosonee, Churchill and Attawapiskat.It is approximately 359 546 km squared and the total population is around 10,000 people.



= ** Landform ** = The Hudson Plains is part of the Hudson Bay – Arctic Lowlands Landform Region. The Landscape is made up of shallow swampy plains. In the most recent ice age, the water of the Hudson Bay covered that is now the area of the Hudson Plains. The sediments gathered at the bottom of the bay and compressed together into the layer of sedimentary rock that now lies over top of the rock of the Canadian Shield. At this time, the weight of the glaciers depressed the Hudson Bay region and the waters flooded areas up to 300 km inland from the current coastline. During the melting of the massive continental ice sheets, drainage into Hudson Bay was blocked and far-reaching lakes were formed along the margins of retreating ice sheets.



There are two layers of rock that make up this ecozone. Igneous and Metamorphic which make up the Canadian Shield is the bottom layer of bedrock. The layer on top if made up of Paleozoic and Proterozoic sedimentary bedrock which slopes down towards Hudson Bay, this was formed much later than the Canadian Shield. From what we know about the landform region, Hudson Bay- Arctic Lowlands, what is mined in this area is lignite, oil and natural gas.



Hudson Plains is a part of the wet-climate soil region, and the Boreal and Taiga Forest, and a bit of the tundra vegetation regions. The more northern areas of this zone are unable to support many trees and have been grouped with Tundra plants that are close to the ground and more shrub-like. The south can support trees like in the Taiga Forest, where most of the forestry is located. Areas that are higher up in the Hudson Plains can grow more trees and plants then the lower parts in our ecozone because of the poor drainage. The wetter areas are only able to support the growth of tougher plants like mosses; well trees are only able to grow in dryer areas. The wide-spread of permafrost and ground ice also contribute to poor surface and drainage, and the slow rate of decay. The soil that covers most of the area is mineral soil that is finely textured silt and clay collected by both marine and glacial process. The growing season is an average 90 – 150 days. Some trees that are found here are Black/White Spruce, Tamarack, Balsam Popular, Dwarf/Paper Birch, Cotton Grass, Blueberry, Reindeer Moss, and Caribou Lichen. There isn’t any farming that happens in this ecozone because of the cold climate and wetlands.

The climate region the Hudson Plains is located in is mostly the Taiga region. Precipitation in this area ranges from 400 mm – 800 mm. The two types of precipitation found here are cyclonic and convectional precipitations. The average summer temperature is around 11 degrees Celsius, and the average winter temperature is -18 degrees Celsius. The temperature range is 29 degrees. It has moderately long, cold winters and moderately short, cool summers. Hudson Bay helps to keep the temperature cooler in the summer, but in the winter the ice stops it from helping warm it up. Snow is only a little part of the precipitation that happens in the Hudson Plains, and is in the 200mm range. The temperature is changed mostly by the cold and moisture- loaded Hudson Bay, low pressure and polar high air masses. The factors that affect the climate here are Latitude, Winds and Air Masses, and Nearness to Water. This is a continental climate area.



=Fun Facts=


 * There are a total of 8 major rivers in the Hudson Plains!
 * This ecozone contains the largest continuous wetlands in the world!
 * It's known for its large population of biting insects!
 * One hectare of the land is able to produce ten million black flies!
 * People who live here make their living by hunting, fishing and from the tourism!
 * Churchill, Manitoba is the polar bear capital of the world!

Sources:
 * 1) Making Connections Canada's Geography. 2nd ed. Don Mills, Ontario: Pearson Education Canada, 2006. 118-178 Print.
 * 2) Canada Bio Diversity Website
 * 3) EcoZones Website
 * 4) Site.Google
 * 5) EoEarth Website