2+Hudson+Plains

__ Hudson Plains __

**__ TABLE OF CONTENTS __** **// •Map of Ecozone //** **// •Introduction //** **// •Landform Region //** **// •Rocks and Minerals //** **// •Vegetation and Soil //** **// •Climate and Climograph //** **// •Tourism //** **// •Fun Facts //** **// •Ecozone’s Future //** **// •Sources //**

**__ MAP OF ECOZONE __**



**__ INTRODUCTION __** The Hudson Plains stretch from Manitoba to Quebec along the southern edge of Hudson Bay. The Hudson Plains lowland lay on flat rock sloping slightly to Hudson Bay. This surface is made up of mostly wetlands, and raised sandy beaches. The Hudson Plain is poorly drained, flat and dominated by extensive wetlands. Permafrost and ground ice keep the soil impermeable promoting the development of wetlands. It is part of the Hudson Bay Landform Region, the Taiga Climate Region, the Wet-climate Soil Region, the Tundra and Boreal Vegetation Region. The Tree Line runs across the middle of the ecozone. **__ LANDFORM REGION __** The Hudson Plain ecozone is mainly located in the Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands. The Hudson plains were created in the Palezoic era. This region consists of a very flat low area covered by a swampy forest.It is tilted slightly so it drains into Hudson and James Bay but it still has very poor drainage so it is mostly peat land with patches of shallow, two meter deep water scattered throughout the flat land. This region has a rolling landscape. It occupies about a quarter of Ontario and 4% of Canada, covering 369 000 square kilometers of land and 11 800 square kilometers of water. The Hudson Plains is also known for coastal marshes and extensive tidal flats, with tidal marshes along the coast of Hudson Bay. In the Hudson Plains, thousands of depressions carved by retreating glaciers have formed into many wetlands, and lakes.

**__ ROCKS AND MINERALS __** Rocks that are found in the Hudson Plains are mainly from the Palezoic era. The minerals found in this region are mainly lignite (Poor Quality Coal) oil and natural gas. This creates mining in the region which will provide jobs for locals.Diamond-bearing kimberlite was discovered near Attawapiskat and Ontario's first diamond mine was opened there on July 26th, 2008. The Hudson Plains rest on flat rock with a maximum elevation of 500m, but the average in 120m above sea level. There are many sandy beaches in the Hudson Plains and the rock content underlying the area is 80% sedimentary rock, 12% igneous rock and 8% metamorphic rock.

**__ VEGETATION AND SOIL __** The soil in this area is not the best for growing crops because of poorly developed organic materials and scattered permafrost.The soil of the northwestern part is peat with alluvial soils and subarctic soils, while the southeast part is peat with alluvial soils and brown wooded soils.The soil in the southern region has more nutrition and is thicker topsoil. Up at the northern region there is greater drainage so even though it is better quality soil, there is not as many nutrients in the topsoil. The vegetation in this area is very different depending on where you are. The trees there are coniferous trees such as the Spruce Trees, Pine Trees, Fir Trees, Rocky Mountain Red Cedar Paper Birch, and Western Larch.The Tree Line bisects the Hudson Plains from west to east; the top part is tundra and the bottom part is taiga. The tundra area's vegetation consists mainly of various dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses and lichens. The taiga area consists mainly of coniferous trees. There are also mosses, shrubs, herbs, and small flowers found among this wide variety of plants. The soil within the Hudson Plains however, is not fertile, due to the very little precipitation, poorly developed organic soils, and permafrost.



**__ CLIMATE AND CLIMOGRAPH __** The Hudson Plains has a continental climate.The Hudson Plains have moderately long, cold winters, and moderately short cool summers. The average temperature is between -4 and -2C. The average summer temperature varies from 10.5 to 11.5°C, and the average winter temperature varies from -19 to -16°C.The precipitation averages are 400mm in the northwest and 800mm in the Southeast. It snows very little. The growing season is around 90 to 150 days.There is little wind current in the Taiga region. The air is continuously cold from wind currents from the Arctic Circle, so the air temperature remains very cold throughout most of the year. Since the temperatures are below freezing throughout winter, snow, sleet, and hail often fall, and when temperatures are above zero, rains may fall.Temperature varies in each season, therefore most of these factors are affecting the climate in this region: Latitude, Ocean Currents, Winds, and near bodies of water.Hudson Plains is near the Arctic and the Oceans which may cause wind currents and cold air to move across it while the southern region is near dry land. This means the northern part of this region is much colder and has less vegetation because it is farther away from the equator, and the southern region.The type of air current is continental Arctic because this region is characterized by colder temperature and winter seasons. This is an example city located within the Hudson Plains. This city is Moosonee, Onario. The total precipitation in Moosonee is 661.5mm/year.The temperature range is -20.7 to 15.4 degrees C.



**__ TOURISM __** The Hudson Plains has very limited tourism, but located within this ecozone there is one national park Wapusk. This park is well known because it protects one of the world's largest known breed of polar bear. The park lies on the transition between boreal forest and Arctic tundra. The geology, biodiversity, and cultural history of the area are what give the Wapusk national park its unique characteristics. Also in this ecozone there is the Polar Bear Provincial Park. This provincial park is only accessible by air and is Ontario’s largest most northerly park. As you can see the Hudson Plain ecozone has very little tourism because of its harsh climate. Both these areas are protected so no development can harm anything within the park.These are also great attractions for hunters and fishers because of the abundance of wild deer, moose, geese, etc.and the many rivers and lakes which are awesome if you love to fish. But aside from all this, this ecozone only attracts those willing to face the northern climate of this region.

**__ FUN FACTS __** ** •Most residents are First Nations ** ** • It has a low population of about 10 000 people ** ** •The land doesn't have fertile enough soil to farm ** ** •The Hudson Plains are notorious for their populations of biting insects ** ** •The population density is about 2.7 people per 100 square kilometers ** ** • ** ** Algonquian residents call the land 'Muskeg' which means 'grassy bog' ** ** •Some of the animals that live among the Hudson Plains are the Woodland Caribou, White-tailed Deer, Moose and Black bear **

**__ ECOZONE’S FUTURE __** The future for this ecozone may not be as promising with the effects of climate change (Global Warming) this ecozone may experience some major flooding which could potentially destroy the ecozone. This flooding will not only affect this ecozone its self but it will also destroy the habitats of animals as well as the environment its self. Based on the scarce resources and the vast area of protected land this ecozone will not see very much development going on. **__ SOURCES __** ** Bernhardt, Torsten. "Canadian Biodiversity: Ecozones: Hudson Plains." //Canadian Biodiversity Web Site//. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. . **   ** "Hudson Plains Ecozone." //Ecozones.ca Home Page//. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. . **   ** "The Atlas of Canada - Terrestrial Ecozones." //Welcome to the Atlas of Canada / Bienvenue à L'Atlas Du Canada//. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. . **   ** "Polar Bear." //Welcome to Ontario Parks//. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. . **   ** "Parks Canada - Wapusk National Park." //Parks Canada | Parks Canada//. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. . **  ** By: Connor R and Ben D ** **__ TRIVIA __**

** To view the answers, highlight after the lower numbers **

1. True or False: The Hudson Plains is made up entirely of swamps and bogs.

2. Which geologic era was the Hudson Plains formed in?

3. How much percent of Canada do the Hudson Plains cover?

4. True or False the maximum elevation of the Hudson Plains is 400m above sea level.

5. Why is the soil in the northern part of this ecozone good quality but it does not have as much nutrients?

1. False, The Hudson Plains contain both wetlands to the north and tagia forests in the south.

2. The Hudson Plains were formed in the Palezoic era.

3. The Hudson Plains cover a quarter of Ontario and 4% of Canada.

4. False, The maximum elevation of the Hudson Plains is 500m above sea level.

5. Up at the northern region there is greater drainage so even though it is god quality soil there is not as many nutrients in the topsoil.