Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre

Ancient Precambrian rocks, rising in places 100 metres or more above the surrounding terrain, dominate the landscape giving it a rugged, almost mountainous appearance. The steep, upper slopes are usually treeless, but shallow, sandy soils on the lower slopes support closed stands of black spruce and jack pine. White spruce are confined to valleys and lake shorelines. The low-lying peatland areas are perennially frozen and support low stands of black spruce.

Typical of the Precambrian Shield, this ecoregion has numerous small lakes, many of which are linked by fast-flowing streams to form the regional drainage pattern. Most of the ecoregion drains northward into Great Slave Lake. The aquatic systems support cold water fish such as lake trout and arctic grayling, in addition to northern pike, walleye and whitefish. Some of the more conspicuous animals include black bear, wolverine, and timber wolf, along with scattered populations of moose.

The migratory barren-ground caribou and associated arctic fox sometimes enter the region during winter. Red-throated loon, greater yellowlegs, white-crowned sparrow and golden eagle are typical birds. Willow ptarmigan are found in this ecoregion during the winter.

LANDSCAPE AREA

B1 Uranium City Upland
B2 Territories Upland