Arctic and Subarctic Geography and History

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Questions and Answers

What is the maximum Nordicity value at the North Pole?

500

1000 (correct)

400

200

Which of the following is considered a human characteristic of the cold environment?

Sparse population (correct)

Vast geographic area

Limited biophysical diversity

Frozen ground

What factor contributes to the high cost of living in northern regions?

Importance of wildlife

Continental climate

Population stabilization

Few highways (correct)

What is a significant challenge faced by populations in the northern regions?

Resource economy Signup and view all the answers

Which latitude range is associated with the maximum number of units set by Hamelin?

200 to 1,000 Signup and view all the answers

What significant geographic feature was created during the Wisconsin Glaciation episode?

Beringia Signup and view all the answers

How much did sea levels drop during glaciation periods?

100 - 150 metres Signup and view all the answers

What role did the Bering Strait Land Bridge play in prehistoric migration?

It was a migration route for both plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the landscape of Beringia compared to the rest of North America during the glaciation period?

It was ice-free. Signup and view all the answers

Which prehistoric creature is mentioned as having roamed the cold grassy plains of Beringia?

Woolly Mammoth Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of glacier ice in Canada is found in the higher lands of the islands?

75% Signup and view all the answers

Which age range characterizes the Paleozoic rock found in the Canadian Shield?

251 – 543 million years old Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the polynyas in the eastern archipelago during winter?

They are areas of open water surrounded by ice. Signup and view all the answers

Who introduced the concept of Nordicity in 1979?

Louis-Edmond Hamelin Signup and view all the answers

What combination is used to measure the degree of 'northernness' in the concept of Nordicity?

Physical and human factors Signup and view all the answers

What kind of ecosystem characterized the Yukon area before the arrival of glaciers?

Mammoth steppe Signup and view all the answers

Approximately how long ago did the first people migrate from Asia to the Yukon region?

15,000 years ago Signup and view all the answers

Which site is known for containing important evidence of ice age communities in Beringia?

Bluefish Cave Signup and view all the answers

Which language group do the ancestors of Yukon’s First Nations belong to?

Dene Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is primarily shaped by glaciers?

Glacial landforms Signup and view all the answers

What is believed to be the earliest evidence of humans in the Arctic?

Yana River Site Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the disappearance of boreal forests in ancient Yukon?

Climate change and lack of moisture Signup and view all the answers

What type of sediments reflect the conditions present in Yukon since the end of the Ice Age?

Limestone rubble and humus Signup and view all the answers

What role do eskers play in the ecosystem for caribou?

They offer habitats for avoiding insects. Signup and view all the answers

What are De Geer moraines commonly known for?

Their unique washboard appearance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the current rate of isostatic rebound in the Hudson's Bay area?

4 feet per century. Signup and view all the answers

What are skerries?

Small rocky islands. Signup and view all the answers

Which ecozones range from high arctic to plains in the Yukon?

Seven distinct ecozones. Signup and view all the answers

What geological features can be found in the Canadian Shield?

Rich mineral deposits. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Hudson’s Bay raised beaches relate to isostatic rebound?

They indicate past water levels. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following islands are among the largest in the Arctic Archipelago?

Baffin Island. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of terrain is created by the geological processes in the Canadian Shield?

Rugged mountains and fjords. Signup and view all the answers

What climate feature is indicated by the mean annual temperatures listed?

Cold climate with sub-zero temperatures. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

### Arctic and Subarctic

The Arctic is the northernmost region of the Earth
The Subarctic lies between the Arctic and the temperate regions
The Wisconsin Glaciation episode left vast glacial landscapes in the Arctic
Ice-free Beringia had a different landscape than the rest of North America during glaciation
Beringia was a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska due to lower sea levels during glaciation
Beringia was a vast grassy plain with a diverse ecosystem including mammoths, steppe bison, and early humans
The first humans in Yukon migrated from Asia near the end of the last ice age, about 15,000 years ago
The Bluefish Cave in Yukon is an important source of information about Ice Age communities, containing stone tools and fossilized bones dating back to 14,000 BCE
The ancestors of Yukon's First Nations, known as Dene or Athapaskan language speakers, arrived during the Holocene
Stratified soil layers at Bluefish Cave provide evidence of warmer, moister conditions since the end of the Ice Age

### Glacial Landforms

Glaciers are a powerful force in shaping the landscape, creating unique landforms
Eskers are raised ridges formed by glacial meltwater deposits. They are rich in sediments and often used as burial sites.
Outwash plains are flat, often sandy areas created by meltwater flowing from glaciers.
De Geer moraines are thin, parallel ridges formed by the retreat of glaciers. They appear as a washboard pattern and provide evidence of glacial movement
Isostatic rebound is the uplift of land following the removal of glacial ice. Hudson Bay is still recovering from glacial rebound and is expected to rise another 100 meters.

### Hudson's Bay

Hudson's Bay is a large inland sea in Canada. It's a key example of isostatic rebound.
The area is characterized by raised beaches, which are elevated shorelines that were once at sea level but have since been lifted by the rebound.
The coastline of Hudson's Bay features unique landforms shaped by glaciation.

### Canadian Geography

Canada's major drainage basins include the Arctic Basin, the Hudson Bay System, and the Atlantic Basin.
Permafrost zones indicate areas where the ground remains frozen for at least two consecutive years.
Yukon has seven ecozones ranging from high arctic to the plains of central Yukon.
The Northwest Territories are home to 94 major islands larger than 1,302 km2 and thousands of smaller islands.
The Arctic Archipelago contains six of the world's 30 largest islands, including Baffin Island, Victoria Island, Ellesmere Island, Banks Island, Devon Island, Axel Heiberg Island, Melville Island, and Prince of Wales Island.

### Geology and Mineral Deposits

The Canadian Arctic is a variety of landscapes with rugged mountains, deep fjords, and plains.
The Canadian Shield contains vast mineral deposits, including gold and diamonds.
Sedimentary rocks, like the Sverdrup Basin, hold oil and natural gas reserves.

### Eastern Arctic & Sea Ice

The eastern Arctic islands of Baffin, Devon, Ellesmere, and Alex Heiberg are mountainous, rising to over 2,000 meters.
These islands contain the majority of Canada's glacial ice.
The eastern Arctic is the northernmost extent of the Canadian Shield, forming a base of Paleozoic rock.
The Queen Elizabeth Islands are younger and formed from heavily folded sedimentary rocks.
The eastern Arctic is characterized by deep channels separating the islands.
Sea ice in the Eastern Arctic can be 1.5-2 meters thick in winter.
Recurring polynyas, open areas of water surrounded by sea ice, exist in the region. The largest is North of Baffin Island in the southeastern Beaufort Sea.

### Nordicity

Nordicity is a concept measuring the degree of "northernness", accounting for physical and human factors.
The concept was developed by Louis-Edmond Hamelin and involves 10 variables, each measured in “polar units.”
The North Pole has the maximum Nordicity value of 1,000, while the southern limit is set at 200.
Variables include latitude, natural vegetation, summer heat, accessibility, types of ice, population, economic activity, and precipitation.

### Characteristics of the North

The North is characterized by cold environments, sparse populations, limited biodiversity, wilderness, remoteness, permafrost, and resource-based economies.
The north faces challenges including high cost of living, limited infrastructure, fragile ecosystems, and the impacts of climate change.
Traditional lifestyles and cultural practices are intertwined with the unique physical environment of the Canadian North.

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Description

Explore the fascinating geography and human history of the Arctic and Subarctic regions. Learn about glaciation, the land bridge of Beringia, and the early inhabitants of Yukon. This quiz delves into the ecosystems, migration patterns, and archaeological findings from the Ice Age.