The Highlands

1. The Highlands Page 143 questions 2, 3, 4, 6

2. #2 ) Why does the Appalachian region have many excellent harbours? • During the last ice age the weight of the continental glaciers pushed the crust of the earth downwards. • When the ice melted, the ocean was able to move up the river valleys creating a flooded coastline • This caused the river beds to be much deeper under water than expected. • The result is that cities such as Halifax have very deep harbours which make them important centres for large ocean going ships.

3. How ice weighs down the earth’s crust

4. http://images.marinas.com/med_res_id/107570

5. #3a) Describe the composition and appearance of the InnuitianMountians. • The Innuitian Mountains have been described as icy watchtowers in Canada’s north. • The have the same composition (mostly sedimentary & some metamorphic rock) as the Appalachians. • Because they are younger they have higher (2500 m) and sharper peaks since they have not been eroded as much. • They are mostly ice covered and barren since the climate is so cold and the growing season so short.

6. #3b) Why has this region not been developed as much as other regions? • Few people live in the area, and there are no roads, few harbours, and no airports (and only a few airstrips) to allow access. • Therefore, because of its remote location, harsh climate, and because the same types of resources can be found and developed more economically in the south, this region remains undeveloped.

7. #4a) How were the fiords of British Columbia created? • During the last ice age alpine glaciers occupied the river valleys leading out to the sea. • The glaciers eroded the bottom of these valleys until they were deeper than today’s sea level. • When the glaciers melted, the ocean flooded the valleys creating steep sided fiords.

8. #4b) What effect do the fiords have on transportation along the coast? • The deeply indented coastlines created by the numerous fiords make road construction expensive and difficult. • For this reason transportation is mostly by boat and by float plane.

9. West coast earthquakes

10. #6) label the following mountains from oldest to youngest and explain why you have made these choices? • The Appalachian Mountains (left) are oldest followed by the theInnuitian Mountains (right), and the Western Cordillera are youngest (center). • Since they are older they have a more rounded shape and have been more eroded. • A second indicator is the general height of each mountain range with the Appalachians having a much lower average height than the other two. The Appalachians The Western Cordillera The Innuitians