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52-557: Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park was created to protect the Athabasca sand dunes, a unique boreal shield ecosystem located in the far-northwest part of the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District . The Athabasca sand dunes are one of the most northerly active sand dune formations on Earth. It first came to attention that it should be a protected area in 1969, finally becoming

104-493: A dark, organic-matter-enriched A horizon overlying the Solonetzic B, which occurs usually at a depth of 20 cm or less. The Ae (grey, leached) horizon is very thin or absent. Solodized Solonetz have a distinct Ae horizon between the dark A and the Solonetzic B. Solods have a transitional AB or BA horizon formed by degradation of the upper part of the Solonetzic B horizon. Vertisolic Solonetzic soils have features intergrading

156-409: A horizon. Luvic Gleysols have a leached (Ae) horizon underlain by a B horizon in which the clay has accumulated; they may have a dark surface horizon. These soils have B horizons that are very hard when dry, swelling to a sticky, compact mass when wet. They usually develop in saline parent materials in semiarid and subhumid regions. Properties of the B horizons are associated with sodium ions that cause

208-425: A lack of time for development or from instability of materials. The properties of Regosolic soils are essentially those of the parent material. Two great groups are defined. Regosols consist essentially of C horizons. Humic Regosols have an Ah horizon at least 10 cm thick. Regosolic soils cover about 73,000 km (0.8%) of Canada's land area. The 31 great group classes are formed by subdividing order classes on

260-641: A somewhat higher precipitation and associated higher organic-matter content. Black soils, associated with subhumid climates and tall-grass native vegetation, have a black A horizon which is usually thicker than that of Brown or Dark Brown soils. Dark Gray soils are transitional between grassland Chernozemic soils and the more strongly leached soils of forested regions. These soils have eluvial horizons from which clay has been leached after snowmelt or heavy rains and illuvial horizons in which clay has been deposited; these horizons are designated Ae and Bt respectively. In saline or calcareous materials, clay translocation

312-453: Is below 5.5. Dystric Brunisols are acidic and do not have an Ah horizon 10 cm thick. All four of these great groups have eluviated subgroups in which an Ae horizon is present but the B horizon has insufficient accumulation of amorphous material or clay to classify the soil as Podzolic or Luvisolic. These soils are too weakly developed to meet the limits of any other order. The absence or weak development of genetic horizons may result from

364-473: Is deposited in the B horizon. Dissolved aluminum and iron may also move downward in inorganic forms and be deposited as aluminum-silicon complexes and iron oxides. An eluvial Ae (light grey, strongly leached) horizon usually is prominent above the Podzolic B horizon, but may be inconspicuous or absent. Podzolic soils occupy about 1,429,000 km (15.6%) of Canada's land area and are dominant in vast areas of

416-610: Is home to numerous plant species (some of which are endemic or rare), including the felt-leaved willow ( Salix silicicola ), Mackenzie hairgrass ( Deschampsia mackenzieana ), Tyrrell's willow ( Salix planifolia tyrrellii ), pipsissewa ( Chimaphila umbellata ), woolly beachheather ( Hudsonia tomentosa ), black spruce ( Picea mariana ), sea thrift ( Armeria maritima ) and floccose tansy ( Tanacetum huronense var. floccosum). [REDACTED] Media related to Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park at Wikimedia Commons Download coordinates as: Boreal shield The retreat of

468-477: Is more closely related to the American system than any other, but they differ in several ways. The Canadian system is designed to cover only Canadian soils. The Canadian system dispenses with the sub-order hierarchical level. Solonetzic and Gleysolic soils are differentiated at the order level. Before 1955, Canadian soil testing was based on systems of classification which were similar to methods being used in

520-765: Is much more specific; e.g., Orthic Gray Luvisol, clayey, mixed (mineralogy), cold, subhumid. Series have a vast array of properties (e.g., horizon thickness and colour, gravel content, structure) that fall within a narrow range. Thus, for example, the series name Breton implies all the basic properties of the Luvisolic order, the Gray Luvisol great group, the Orthic Gray Luvisol subgroup and the fine, loamy, mixed, cold subhumid family of that subgroup as well as series-specific properties. A series name implies so much specific information about soil properties that

572-469: Is preceded by leaching of salts and carbonates. Luvisolic soils occur typically in forested areas of subhumid to humid climate where the parent materials contain appreciable clay. Luvisolic soils cover about 809,000 km (8.8%) of Canada's land area. Large areas of Luvisolic soils occur in the central to northern Interior Plains ; smaller areas in all regions south of the permafrost zone. The two great groups of Luvisolic soils are distinguished mainly on

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624-524: The Laurentide Ice Sheet left a landscape of broadly rolling uplands and lowlands with precambrian granitic bedrock outcrops. Few clear drainage channels were left in the rocky sediments deposited by the glacier resulting in a deranged drainage pattern . The numerous wetlands and lakes formed give this ecozone a unique character. Water features in this ecozone contain 22% of Canada's freshwater surface area. Soil types vary widely across

676-572: The Mackenzie Valley yielded new knowledge about the properties, genesis and significance of these soils. Turbic Cryosols have a patterned surface (hummocks, stone nets, etc.) and mixed horizons or other evidence of cryoturbation. Static Cryosols lack marked evidence of cryoturbation; they are associated with sandy or gravelly materials. Organic Cryosols are composed dominantly of organic materials (e.g., peat). Because organic material acts as an insulator, Organic Cryosols occur farther south than

728-687: The Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Wilderness Park on August 24, 1992. The park extends for 100 kilometres (62 mi) along the southern edge of Lake Athabasca and lies within the Athabasca Basin of the Canadian Shield . The sand dunes are 400 to 1,500 metres (1,300 to 4,900 ft) long, with a maximum height of approximately 30 metres (98 ft). The park is accessible by float plane or boat only. The William River flows through

780-688: The Canadian System of Soil Classification. This system differentiates soil types on the basis of measured properties of the profile and uses a hierarchical scheme to classify soils from general to specific. The most recent version of the classification system has five categories in its hierarchical structure. From general to specific, the major categories in this system are: Orders , Great Groups , Subgroups , Families , and Series . Soil classes are defined as specifically as possible to permit uniformity of classification. Limits between classes are arbitrary as there are few sharp divisions of

832-819: The Canadian system in the 1990s after extensive studies of pedons in the Great Plains. The Vertisol great group has a light-coloured A horizon that is not readily distinguishable, and the Humic Vertisol great group has a dark-coloured A horizon enriched in organic matter that is clearly distinguishable from the underlying soil material. These acid soils have a B horizon containing accumulations of amorphous materials composed of humified organic matter associated with aluminum and iron. They develop most commonly in sandy materials in areas of cold, humid climate under forest or shrub vegetation. Water moving downward through

884-533: The Chernozemic order (Dark Gray Luvisol), Podzolic order (Podzolic Gray Luvisol), Gleysolic order (Gleyed Gray Luvisol), Solonetzic and Gleysolic orders (Gleyed Solonetzic Gray Luvisol), etc. Families are based on parent material properties and soil climate. For example, the Orthic Gray Luvisol subgroup includes soils of a wide range of texture (gravelly sandy loam to clay), different mineralogy and different temperature and water regime. The soil family designation

936-683: The Great Lakes-St Lawrence Lowlands. Gray Luvisols have eluvial and illuvial horizons and may have an Ah horizon if the mean annual soil temperature is below 8 °C. Vast areas of Gray Luvisols in the Boreal Forest Zone of the Interior Plains have thick, light grey eluvial horizons underlying the forest litter and thick Bt horizons with clay coating the surface of aggregates. This order includes all soils that have developed B horizons but do not meet

988-480: The United States. In 1955, a taxonomic system of soil classification specific to Canadian conditions was introduced. This system was designed to differentiate soils created by pedogenic processes in cool climatic environments. The land area of Canada (excluding inland waters) is approximately 9,180,000 km , of which about 1,375,000 km (15%) is rock land. The remainder is classified according to

1040-547: The Vertisolic order in addition to any of the above Solonetzic features. The developmental sequence of Solonetzic soils is commonly from saline parent material to Solonetz, Solodized Solonetz and Solod. As leaching progresses, the salts and sodium ions are translocated downward. If leaching progresses for long enough and salts are removed completely, the Solonetzic B may disintegrate completely. The soil would then be classified in another order. Resalinization may occur and reverse

1092-429: The basis of soil properties that reflect differences in soil-forming processes (e.g., kinds and amounts of organic matter in surface soil horizons). Subgroups are based on the sequence of horizons in the pedon. Many subgroups intergrade to other soil orders. For example, the Gray Luvisol great group includes 12 subgroups; Orthic Gray Luvisol is the typical expression of Gray Luvisols, and other subgroups are intergrades to

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1144-410: The basis of soil temperature. Gray Brown Luvisols have a dark Ah horizon in which organic matter has been mixed with the mineral material (commonly by earthworm activity), a brown, often platy eluvial horizon (Ae) and an illuvial horizon (Bt) in which blocky structure is common. Their mean annual soil temperature is 8 °C or higher. The major area of Gray Brown Luvisols is found in the southern part of

1196-1739: The boundary of continuous permafrost. These soils are composed predominantly of organic matter in the upper half metre (more than 30% organic matter by weight) and do not have permafrost near the surface. They are the major soils of peatlands (e.g., swamp, bog, fen). Most organic soils develop by the accumulation of plant materials from species that grow well in areas usually saturated with water. Some organic soils are composed largely of plant materials deposited in lakes; others, mainly of forest leaf litter on rocky slopes in areas of high rainfall. Organic soils cover almost 374,000 km (4.1%) of Canada's land area: large areas occur in Manitoba , Ontario and northern Alberta , smaller areas in other provinces and territories. Organic soils are subdivided into four great groups. Fibrisols, common in Canada, consist predominantly of relatively undecomposed organic material with clearly visible plant fragments; resistant fibres account for over 40% by volume. Most soils derived from Sphagnum mosses are Fibrisols. Mesisols are more highly decomposed and contain less fibrous material than Fibrisols (10–40% by volume). Humisols consist mainly of humified organic materials and may contain up to 10% fibre by volume. Folisols consist mainly of thick deposits of forest litter overlying bedrock, fractured bedrock or unconsolidated material. They occur commonly in wet mountainous areas of coastal British Columbia . These clay-rich soils shrink and swell markedly on drying and wetting. The physical disruption associated with shrinking and swelling produces shiny shear planes (slickensides) in

1248-412: The clay to disperse readily and swell on wetting, thus closing the large pores and preventing water flow. Solonetzic soils cover almost 73,000 km (0.7%) of Canada's land area; most occur in southern Alberta, because of the large areas of saline parent material and semiarid climate. The four great groups of Solonetzic soils are based on properties reflecting the degree of leaching. Solonetz soils have

1300-427: The diversity of both plant and animal species and increase the forest's vulnerability to disease. Many Shield lakes and soils are extremely sensitive to changes in pH . Acid rain from local sources and from the long-range transport of airborne pollutants has already taken an ominous toll. It may be weakening the general vigour and growth rate of trees, as well as of aquatic species, in sensitive areas. Under 3% of

1352-529: The east. In areas of muskeg there are stands of black spruce or tamarack . There are frequent forest fires. Being largely wild and remote, this ecozone is rich in wildlife, including woodland caribou , moose , wolf , black bear , raccoon , marten , fisher , striped skunk , lynx , bobcat and eastern chipmunk . Common birds include Boreal owl , great horned owl , blue jay , white- sparrow and evening grosbeak . Lakes contain brook char , lake trout , northern pike , perch , and walleye . Off

1404-453: The ecozone's total land space forbids industrial activities of any kind; this land space is therefore designated as protected. Another 5% of the ecozone's land space is also considered protected, though not as strictly; activities such as mining or forestry may be tolerable in such areas. The Boreal Shield is the largest ecozone in Canada , however, compared to other ecozones, it exhibits among

1456-505: The edges of the area into the surrounding forest. Evidence also suggests that fires have greatly influenced the winds shaping the dunes. Unlike the dunes closer to the lake, the southern dunes are in fact quite stable relative to other areas in the region. Geological features that can be found in the region include eskers and beach ridges . In addition, portions of the Williams River in the region flow through braided channels in

1508-409: The end of the last glacial period . As glaciers receded, meltwater washed enormous quantities of sand, silt and sediment from local sandstone into Lake Athabasca, whose water level was at the time much higher than currently. As the lake level declined to its modern depth, the large sand deposits were revealed. The sand dunes are quite unstable, being constantly shifted by winds, which push the dunes at

1560-575: The humid Appalachian and Canadian Shield regions and in the humid coastal region of British Columbia . They are divided among three great groups on the basis of the kind of Podzolic B horizon. Humic Podzols have a dark B horizon with a low iron content. They occur mainly in wet sites under humid climates and are much less common than other Podzolic soils. Ferro-Humic Podzols have a dark reddish-brown or black B horizon containing at least 5% organic carbon and appreciable amounts (often 2% or more) of aluminum and iron in organic complexes. They occur commonly in

1612-403: The landscape may be flooded. If flooding occurs when the soil temperature is above approximately 5 °C, microbial activity results in depletion of oxygen within a few days. Under such conditions, oxidized soil components (e.g., nitrate, ferric oxide) are reduced. Depletion of ferric oxide removes the brownish colour common to many soils, leaving them grey. As the soil dries and oxygen re-enters,

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1664-417: The larger national ecozone and ecoprovince system. The Alberta Natural Subregion - Natural Regions (2006) found within this ecozone are: The Manitoba Ecoregions within this ecozone are: The Saskatchewan Ecoregions within this ecozone are: The regional climate has long, cold winters and short summers, conditions which are moderated in coastal regions. Summers in the east are warmer than those in

1716-417: The major class of soils in the southern Interior Plains , where grass is the dominant native vegetation. The four great groups of Chernozemic soils are distinguished based upon surface horizon colour, associated with the relative dryness of the soil. Brown soils have brownish A horizons and occur in the driest area of the Chernozemic region. Dark Brown soils have a darker A horizon than Brown soils, reflecting

1768-760: The more humid parts of the area of Podzolic soils; e.g., coastal British Columbia and parts of Newfoundland and southern Quebec . In Labrador along the Churchill River valley Ferro-Humic Podzols comprise about 36% of soils. Humo-Ferric Podzols, the most common Podzolic soils in Canada, have a reddish-brown B horizon containing less than 5% organic carbon associated with aluminum and iron complexes. These soils are periodically or permanently saturated with water and depleted of oxygen. They occur commonly in shallow depressions and level areas of subhumid and humid climate in association with other classes of soil on slopes and hills. After snowmelt or heavy rains, depressions in

1820-416: The northern and eastern coasts, aquatic mammals include grey seal , harp seal , hooded seal , ringed seal , sperm whale , orca , Atlantic pilot whale , fin whale , blue whale , northern right whale , bowhead whale , and humpback whale . Fire suppression, insect control, clear-cutting and single-species tree farming are widespread in accessible areas. These practices may, over the long term, reduce

1872-540: The permafrost zone. Four great groups are distinguished on the basis of organic matter enrichment in the A horizon and acidity. Melanic Brunisols have an Ah horizon at least 10 cm thick and a pH above 5.5. They occur commonly in southern Ontario and Quebec. Eutric Brunisols have the same basic properties as Melanic Brunisols, except that the Ah horizon, if any, is less than 10 cm thick. Sombric Brunisols have an Ah horizon at least 10 cm thick, and are acid and their pH

1924-537: The process associated with leaching. These soils have an A horizon darkened by the addition of organic matter, usually from the decay of grass roots. The A horizon is neutral to slightly acid and is well supplied with bases such as calcium. The C horizon usually contains calcium carbonate (lime); it may contain more soluble salts such as gypsum . Chernozemic soils have mean annual soil temperatures above 0 °C and occur in regions of semiarid and subhumid climates. Covering more than 4% of Canada's land area, they are

1976-422: The reduced iron may be oxidized locally to bright yellow-brown spots (mottles). Thus, Gleysolic soils are usually identified by their poor drainage and drab grey colour, sometimes accompanied by brown mottles. Gleysolic soils cover about 117,000 km (1.3%) of Canada's land area. Three great groups of Gleysolic soils are defined. Humic Gleysols have a dark A horizon enriched in organic matter. Gleysols lack such

2028-466: The region in response to the wide range of climate and soil components present. Cryosols are found in the most northerly areas wherever there is permafrost . Accumulation of organic matter, particularly peat , results in organic soils in much of the area. Brunisols occur in the north and west of the region where coarse to medium sediments are found. In these soils, soil formation is ongoing and will eventually result in either podzols or luvisols. In

2080-426: The relatively porous material leaches out basic elements (e.g., calcium), and acidic conditions develop. Soluble organic substances formed by decomposition of the forest litter attack soil minerals in surface horizons, and much of the iron and aluminum released combines with this organic material. When the proportion of aluminum and iron to organic matter reaches a critical level, the organic complex becomes insoluble and

2132-492: The requirements of any of the orders described previously. Many Brunisolic soils have brownish B horizons without much evidence of clay accumulation, as in Luvisolic soils, or of amorphous materials, as in Podzolic soils. With time and stable environmental conditions, some Brunisolic soils will evolve to Luvisolic soils; others, to Podzolic soils. Covering almost 790,000 km (8.6%) of Canada's land area, Brunisolic soils occur in association with other soils in all regions south of

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2184-430: The sand. Some of the dune field is covered with desert pavement . The dunes are generally parabolic in shape. The sand almost completely covers the underlying sandstone deposits; the bedrock is around 20 metres (66 ft) below ground on average. The entire sandy region, including areas south of the dunes, serves as an enormous aquifer, which as a result significantly affects plant life and dune development. The area

2236-1015: The smallest shares of land that have been deemed protected. Because the region is abundant in forest land, it is subject to extensive forestry practices. In order to strengthen public dialogue and engagement on matters concerned with protected areas within the ecozone, land allocation programs have been adopted in Ontario and Saskatchewan. The programs consist of local and regional-level advisory groups that serve to help select and manage conservation areas in these provinces. A number of protected areas have been established to protect representative and/or significant portions of this ecozone. These include Georgian Bay Islands National Park , Gros Morne National Park , La Mauricie National Park , Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve , Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve , Pukaskwa National Park , and Terra Nova National Park . Canadian system of soil classification The Canadian System of Soil Classification

2288-508: The soil and disruption of roads, pipelines and buildings. Cryosolic soils, occupying about 3,672,000 km (about 40%) of Canada's land area, are dominant in much of the Yukon , Northwest Territories and Nunavut and occur in northern areas of all but the Atlantic provinces (excluding Labrador ). The order and its three great groups were defined in 1973, after soil and terrain surveys in

2340-413: The soil continuum in nature. Differences in soils are the result of the interaction of many factors: climate, organisms, parent material, relief and time. The soil classification system changes as knowledge grows through soil mapping and research in Canada and elsewhere. Classification involves arranging individual units with similar characteristics into groups. Soils do not occur as discrete entities; thus

2392-439: The south and east, podzols are found under forests growing primarily on sand in cold conditions. Gleysols are found where poor drainage has resulted in depleted oxygen. Luvisols are present where forests overlay clay deposits. These two soil types occur across the region wherever these conditions occur. This ecozone can be further subdivided into six ecoprovinces: Each province continues to work on defining subregions within

2444-518: The subsoil and either prevents the formation of subsurface horizons or severely disrupts and mixes them. When the soil swells on wetting, the former surficial material is mixed with the subsoil. Vertisolic soils develop mainly in clayey materials in semiarid to subhumid areas of the Interior Plains of Saskatchewan , Manitoba and Alberta and occupy less than 1% of the land area of Canada. The order and its two great groups were recognized in

2496-453: The surface (2 m if the soil is strongly cryoturbated; i.e., disturbed by frost action). As permafrost is a barrier to roots and water, the active layer (seasonally thawed material) above it may become a saturated, semifluid material in spring. Commonly the permafrost layer near the surface contains abundant ice. Melting of ice and frozen materials, resulting from disturbance of the surface vegetation (boreal forest or tundra), may cause slumping of

2548-597: The understanding of relationships between soils and environmental factors. At its most general level, the Canadian System recognizes ten different Soil Orders. To classify in a soil in practice, an identification key in The Canadian System of Soil Classification is used. Decisions are made based on the properties of the horizons , such as thickness, Munsell colour , pH, or evidence of other soil-forming processes (eg, eluviation ). These soils have permafrost (permanently frozen material) within one metre of

2600-447: The unit of measurement for soil is not obvious. This unit of measurement is called the pedon , defined as a 3-dimensional body, commonly with lateral dimensions of 1 metre and depth of 1 to 2 metres. A vertical section of a pedon displays the more-or-less horizontal layers ( horizons ) developed by the action of soil-forming processes. Soil classification facilitates the organization and communication of information about soils, as well as

2652-491: The west of the region. The mean annual temperature ranges from -4 °C in northern Saskatchewan to 5.5 °C in Newfoundland. Precipitation increases from west to east. The region is widely forested with white and black spruce , balsam fir and jack pine . Deciduous trees are more common in the south, with white birch , trembling aspen and balsam poplar . There are also yellow birch and sugar maple to

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2704-544: The western section of the park, ending in a large river delta . The McFarlane River flows through the far eastern section of the park. The First Nations village of Fond du Lac is about 44 kilometres (27 mi), by air, from the park's eastern boundary. The park goes around the Fond du Lac 231 Indian reserve , located on the McFarlane. The Athabasca Sand Dunes are estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old, formed near

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