Geology
The Arctic Geology is dominated by the Northern Cordillerian Region that includes the mountains and uplands of the Rocky Mountains and the valleys and basins of the Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers and their tributaries. This is called the Innuitain Orogen. An Orogen is a section of the earth’s crust measuring some thousands of kilometres across that has been impacted by geological deformation that in the case of the Arctic has been mountain building. The far north of the Yukon and Northwest Territories has its own geology that includes the sedimentary rock of the Arctic Coastal Plains and Continental Sub-Arctic of the Northern Interior Plains.
The north contains some of the oldest rock known to man. The Bedrock geology of the Arctic is extremely varied and exposed due to of the thin soil layer that has formed because of low levels of vegetative material, extensive glaciation and the slow rate of weathering since the land is frozen for large periods of time. Hiking or paddling through this region makes one think that this land has gone through huge upheaval. In prehistoric times, the Yukon and Northwest Territories were part of a tropical plain where rivers snaked across the landscape. The rivers we paddle are called antecedent rivers that means they were there before the mountains rose up. The landscape is full of cliffs and mountain sides where forces have pushed the patterns of rock up on their sides and produce unusual vertical and wavy patterns of rock.
Large portions of the land are also frozen during the year. Permafrost is defined as having been frozen for at least two years. There are two types of permafrost: discontinuous and continuous. Discontinuous permafrost is in areas where the climate drops to slightly below freezing often in sheltered locations. In contrast where the climate is below -5°C then continuous permafrost forms. Permafrost can be from a few inches to over 1,000 feet deep.
Featured Adventures
- Tischu River
Our exploratory trip on the Tischu River, a tributary of the Keele River
News & Events
- Our Outfitting Centre
It has been a long-standing dream of Canoe North Adventures …
- The Redstone River Exploratory Expedition 2009
The Redstone River is unique in that…
- Canol Heritage Trail Exploratory Hike
At Canoe North, we are always intrigued with the prospect of a grand adventure…
- Ice Road
The trip took eight days and the last two days …
- Exploratory Trips
In 2009, we are planning two more exploratory trips…
- New Air Services and Canoeing Base for CNA
at the North-Wright Airways float base in Norman Wells…
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