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A large portion of Canada’s landscape is made up of endless expanses of
evergreen forests, shimmering lakes, and large areas of exposed rock that are
some of the oldest rocks on the entire planet (over 3 billion years old in
places). This geographical region is known as the Canadian Shield. The characteristics that define this landscape are
largely the result of the last period of glacial activity known as the
Pleistocene Epoch. This is commonly referred to as the last “Ice Age” which
ended less than ten thousand years ago. The huge sheets of ice scraped the land
clean, exposing ancient rock and leaving very little soil behind. This, along
with long cold winters and short cool summers favors the growth of evergreen or
Boreal forest, which blankets this region. In addition, receding glaciers and
large chunks of ice left to melt; filled depressions and formed the countless
lakes that dominate Shield country. It is estimated that in Ontario alone there are over one million lakes!
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