GEOLOGICAL FEATURES
The Appalachian/Atlantic region contains various types of geological features, including the wooded Appalachian mountains, the rugged lowlands, and the changing coastline. With its glacially smoothed bedrock, irregular lakes, and glacial deposits, this landscape resembles the ancient Canadian Shield. For centuries nature has thrived in this area, providing habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna.
The Appalachian mountains stretch from Alabama in the southern United States all the way to Newfoundland and Labrador in north eastern Canada. Within Canada, namely from the Quebec border to Newfoundland, the Appalachian mountains create a "Z" shape, as they wind from the west to the east. This beautiful mountain range exhibits quite a range of geological features, including plateau-like flat topped mountains and barren peaks covered with shale. Interspersed between the mountains are deep gorges laced with rivers. This mountain range is rich in minerals and coal deposits, and is carpeted with dense woodlands. Unlike the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, the Appalachian mountains, on average, do not reach lofty altitudes. The highest mountain, Mount Jacques Cartier, lies in the Gaspe Peninsula, reaching over 1,300 meters.
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Unlike the sparsely populated Appalachian mountains, the rolling lowlands are home to many individuals. With deep, rich soil, and numerous lakes, this land has the perfect conditions for farming. In some locations, however, barren hill tops and exposed bedrock decorate the landscape. In other areas, glacial deposits litter isolated pockets of land, giving it an other worldly feel.
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The coastal section of the Atlantic region boasts over 11,000 kilometers of shoreline, and includes a myriad of coastal features. These features includes long peninsulas, multi-hued cliffs, sandy shorelines, and thousands of islands that dot the horizon. One of the most famous features of this coastal area is the Bay of Fundy. This amazing natural wonder is famous for having the largest tidal change in the world. Everyday, over 160 billion tons of water flows in an out of this bay, which is more water than all of the freshwater rivers in the world. Every year, millions of tourists flock to see this spectacular phenomenon.
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