Northern Appalaches and ACA
The Northern Appalachian ecoregion is the northernmost part of the Appalachian range. This section, which follows the eastern Atlantic coast, possesses distinctive geological and natural history traits.
Geography
The Northern Appalachian ecoregion extends from the Tug Hills and Adirondacks of New York State, through to Maine, New Brunswick and the Atlantic Canadian Provinces. The region also encompasses the Green Mountains of Vermont, White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Magdalene Islands, the Gaspé Peninsula and most of south-eastern Quebec.
The Quebec part of the Northern Appalachians is one of 13 Natural Provinces and bears the name of Appalachians Natural Province (learn more on natural provinces) Its southern limit corresponds to the United States border and its south-eastern limit to the New Brunswick boundary. The western limit follows the line between the first marked elevation of the Appalachians and the flat land of the St Lawrence lowlands. The northern limit of the Appalachians Natural Province follows the St Lawrence River, ending east in the St Lawrence Gulf and in the Chaleurs Bay to the south of the Gaspé Peninsula.
History
The Appalachian range is over 450 million years old and was formed over a period of 180 million years through the movement of plate tectonics. The Northern Appalachians have witnessed numerous periods of volcanic activity and at least four important glaciation events. The last ice age, dating back 10,000 to 12,000 years, is thought to be largely responsible for the important erosion of these formerly higher mountains and sharp peaks, now more rounded and surrounded by deep valleys and plateau areas. Elevation ranges from sea level to several thousand metres on isolated summits of the United States.
Geology
The oldest mountains of the Appalachian range are made of granite and metamorphic rocks and are topped by thin glacial till. Valleys show deep moraine and other deposits left behind by the retreat of glaciers, which also created numerous lakes and wetlands.
For more information on Northern Appalaches, visit the following Websites:
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