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  • Essay / Canada's Natural Features and Human Activity

    Table of ContentsCanadian ShieldMixed ForestsOceansConclusionReferences:How Canada's Natural Features Influence Human Activity, and How Could Human Activity Influence Canada's Natural Features ?Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Canadian ShieldThe Canadian Shield was formed in the Precambrian region by volcanoes. Since then, the Canadian Shield has been eroded and eroded by glaciers. Today, the Canadian Shield is the largest and oldest landform in Canada. (MAP BY HOLLY O'ROURKE/THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA)The Canadian Shield is full of minerals, which is why it is often called the "storehouse" of minerals. We use the Canadian Shield to mine lead, gold, copper, nickel, etc. However, because the Canadian Shield is popular; there has been a depletion in the amount of minerals due to overmining. The mined minerals provide materials for the manufacturing industry. Not to mention; various tools are used to extract minerals, which also leads to pollution. Soil/Vegetation In Canada, the climate varies greatly. Climatic variations give rise to different soil types, where two processes called leaching and calcification play an important role in soils in Canada. Leaching occurs when there is excessive rainfall, where rainwater extracts the nutrients plants need from the soil. However, leached soils can only be used for agriculture if fertilizers are added to them. Additionally, calcification occurs when the climate is less rainy (dry). Because soil cannot retain moisture (water evaporates), nutrients are extracted to form rich topsoil, which can be toxic to plants. The consequences of different soils result in different types of vegetation. Forests Here are some examples of forests in Canada: boreal forest and taiga, mixed forest, etc. Boreal forest and taiga The boreal forest and taiga surround part of Hudson Bay. The forest is composed of white and black spruce, pine, fir, etc. Precipitation in this area causes leaching, so cultivated trees can survive in a cooler climate. However, the trees' needles are acidic, making the soil unsuitable for growing other trees. “Taiga landscape in Quebec, Canada, dominated by black spruce” Mixed forestMixed forest is found in eastern Canada. The forest is made up of maples, beeches, ashes, oaks, birches, spruces, firs, etc. The topsoil of the mixed forest is rich in nutrients and the soil absorbs water well. There is not too much precipitation, so the soil is neither subject to leaching nor to calcification. One of the ways we use land is through agriculture, or in other words; agriculture. Mixed forest soil is ideal for agriculture because of its richness and ability to absorb water. However, the soil of the boreal forest and taiga presents acidic soil, unsuitable for agriculture. As mentioned earlier, because of the pollution created, the climate is changing (global warming). Soil depends on climate, so warmer weather means more precipitation. Increased rainfall leads to leaching, which eventually makes the soil unacceptable for agriculture. However, forests are mainly used for timber. The boreal forest and taiga, as well as mixed forest, provide resources for forestry companies. There are fewer trees in these areas because of all the tree cutting. Without forgetting that the 21, 2018