VIe.rocky Mountains - Alberta and British Columbia

8/3/2019 VIe.rocky Mountains - Alberta and British Columbia

1/81

NORTH AMERICANNORTH AMERICAN

REGIONSREGIONSVI. Rocky MountainsVI. Rocky Mountains

e. Alberta and Britishe. Alberta and BritishColumbiaColumbia


2/81


3/81

KeyKey

RedRed--Term to define and rememberTerm to define and remember

YellowYellow--Place to locate and rememberPlace to locate and remember

Bright GreenBright Green--Agricultural productAgricultural product(crop), resource or another thing to(crop), resource or another thing tolocate and rememberlocate and remember

White andWhite and BlueBlue -- NarrationNarration toto helphelpunderstandingunderstanding


4/81

The Canadian Rockies rise out of the plainsThe Canadian Rockies rise out of the plainsas dramatically as do the US Rockies.as dramatically as do the US Rockies.

But sometimes . . .But sometimes . . .


5/81

. . . they fall down.. . . they fall down.

landslidelandslide

Unfortunately this landslide buried the smallUnfortunately this landslide buried the smallAlberta town of Frank.Alberta town of Frank.


6/81


7/81

Mountains are constantly weathering.Mountains are constantly weathering.Sometimes large sections come down atSometimes large sections come down at

once. This is calledonce. This is called mass wastingmass wasting..


8/81

A mineA mine


9/81

Although nowhere over 13,000, theAlthough nowhere over 13,000, the

Canadian Rockies appear larger.Canadian Rockies appear larger.


10/81

Perhaps this is due to the lower timberline.Perhaps this is due to the lower timberline.


11/81

The timberline is c. 7500 this far north.The timberline is c. 7500 this far north.


12/81

More rain falls on the Western slope ofMore rain falls on the Western slope ofthe Canadian Rockies since the west isthe Canadian Rockies since the west is

the windward side of the mountains.the windward side of the mountains.This is orographic precipitation.This is orographic precipitation.


13/81

Transportation isTransportation isdifficult throughdifficult through

the mountains.the mountains.

Rubber tires onRubber tires onpavement allowpavement allow

vehicles to go up avehicles to go up asteep slope.steep slope.

Trains have aTrains have adifferent problem.different problem.


14/81

00 100100505000

5050

Vehicle slopeVehicle slope

2020


15/81

So railroads have a difficultSo railroads have a difficult

path through mountains.path through mountains.

UphillUphill

DownhillDownhill


16/81

If the train goes too fastIf the train goes too fast

on the downhill slope . . .on the downhill slope . . .


17/81

. . . What uses the. . . What uses thetunnel?tunnel?


18/81

E

ntering aE

ntering a tunneltunnel

Sometimes the route is so steep thatSometimes the route is so steep thatextraordinary engineering is necessary!extraordinary engineering is necessary!


19/81

HighwayHighway

RailroadRailroad


20/81

TrainTrain

TunnelTunnel


21/81

Train entering tunnelTrain entering tunnel


22/81

Train entering . . .Train entering . . .


23/81

BanffBanff, Alberta, Alberta


24/81

BanffBanffis an upscaleis an upscale skiskiresort and the site of theresort and the site of the

1988 Calgary Olympics.1988 Calgary Olympics.


25/81

You could stay at theYou could stay at the

BanffBanffLodge.Lodge.

Note the color ofNote the color ofthe Bow River.the Bow River.


26/81

This milky color is caused by tiny particles ofThis milky color is caused by tiny particles ofsilt in the river. The particles and rocksilt in the river. The particles and rock

ground to powder by a glacier. Its calledground to powder by a glacier. Its calledglacial flour.glacial flour.


27/81

Hard rock is difficultHard rock is difficult

to wear away.to wear away.

This is Canada.This is Canada.

In the US we wouldIn the US we wouldprobably have aprobably have afence that keepsfence that keepspeople out, withpeople out, withdanger warningdanger warning

signs.signs.


28/81

Since the Yoho RiverSince the Yoho River

looks milky whatlooks milky whatmust be themust be the sourcesource??


29/81

YohoYoho GlacierGlacier

A moving mass of ice in a valleyA moving mass of ice in a valley


30/81

When the milky rivers water settlesWhen the milky rivers water settlesinto lakes the suspended glacialinto lakes the suspended glacial

flour colors the water blue green.flour colors the water blue green.


31/81

This one is namedThis one is namedEmerald Lake.Emerald Lake.


32/81

Talus!Talus!


33/81

Banff NPBanff NP

Glacier NPGlacier NP

Jasper NPJasper NP

YohoYohoNPNP


34/81

Mount StephensMount Stephens

??glacierglacier


35/81

glacierglacier


36/81

50 years ago this glacier50 years ago this glacierwas herewas here


37/81


38/81

Jasper National ParkJasper National Park

Athabasca ValleyAthabasca Valley

Why is Lake Peyto bluegreen?Why is Lake Peyto bluegreen?


39/81

glacierglacier

Alluvial fan ofAlluvial fan ofglacial debrisglacial debris


40/81

Many glaciers are here.Many glaciers are here.


41/81

Athabasca GlacierAthabasca Glacier

This one is approachable.This one is approachable.

from thefrom theColumbia IceColumbia Ice

FieldField

White = snowWhite = snow

Blue = iceBlue = ice


42/81

The ice is dirty!The ice is dirty!

Note the people walkingNote the people walking

up to the glacier.up to the glacier.

If you were standing hereIf you were standing hereand looking back . . .and looking back . . .


43/81


44/81

The Athabasca Glacier is alsoThe Athabasca Glacier is alsomelting back (retreating).melting back (retreating).

snowsnow

iceicecrevassecrevasse


45/81

iceice

iceice

a source of thea source of theAthabasca RiverAthabasca River


46/81

Here water isHere water ismelting off themelting off the

Columbia Ice FieldColumbia Ice Field..


47/81

Takakaw FallsTakakaw Falls

drops 850.drops 850.

In CanadaIn Canadayou can walkyou can walk

as far as youas far as youdare.dare.


48/81

Animals wehave seenAnimals wehave seen

RockyRocky Mountain GoatsMountain Goats areare

eating minerals like salt thateating minerals like salt thatare necessary in their diet.are necessary in their diet.


49/81

Hes shedding hisHes shedding hiswinter coat.winter coat.


50/81

Cute, but dangerousCute, but dangerous


51/81

Hes standingHes standingguard.guard.


52/81

Great habitat for . . .Great habitat for . . .


53/81


54/81

ElkElk


55/81


56/81

Black BearBlack Bear

Its been tagged.Its been tagged.

Probably because its been tooProbably because its been tooclose to humans. Next time itclose to humans. Next time it

may be killed.may be killed.


57/81

Taken in Northeastern Wisconsin, not the Rockies!Taken in Northeastern Wisconsin, not the Rockies!

This female is familiarThis female is familiarwith people and theirwith people and their

bird feeders.bird feeders.


58/81


59/81

Here there is no wildernessHere there is no wildernessto which to take the bear.to which to take the bear.


60/81

How many will survive?How many will survive?


61/81

squirrelsquirrel


62/81

Since wereSince weresurrounded bysurrounded by

mountains, it makesmountains, it makessense to . . .sense to . . .

Climb!Climb!


63/81

NamelessNamelessfeaturefeature

In Missouri wed have aIn Missouri wed have aname for this.name for this.

morainesmoraines

On this hikeOn this hikewere going towere going tosee somethingsee something

special:special:

The Burgess ShaleThe Burgess Shale

Below othersBelow others


64/81

Above some cloudsAbove some clouds

Below othersBelow others


65/81

Mt. BurgessMt. Burgess


66/81

Mount Burgess fromMount Burgess fromEmerald LakeEmerald Lake


67/81

Emerald Lake from the slopes ofEmerald Lake from the slopes ofMount BurgessMount Burgess


68/81

ShaleShale

But not theBut not the Burgess ShaleBurgess Shale..


69/81

Mount BurgessMount Burgess

Closer to the destinationCloser to the destination


70/81

Closer . . .Closer . . .

Continental DivideContinental Divide


71/81

At last . . .At last . . .

At the timberline . . .At the timberline . . .

Near the continental divide . . .Near the continental divide . . .

The destination . . .The destination . . .

The Burgess ShaleThe Burgess Shale


72/81

Closer . . .Closer . . .

??What are they doing?What are they doing?

TentsTents


73/81

Why would people put up tentsWhy would people put up tentson the side of a mountain,on the side of a mountain,near the Continental Divide, innear the Continental Divide, ina quarry of thea quarry of the Burgess ShaleBurgess Shale??

E f d t t d t iE f d t t d t i


74/81

Snow!Snow!

Even for graduate students inEven for graduate students inpaleontology this is remote.paleontology this is remote.

A place where clouds bump into youA place where clouds bump into you


75/81

A place where clouds bump into you.A place where clouds bump into you.


76/81

There it is: theThere it is: theBurgess ShaleBurgess Shale!!

It is important for twoIt is important for tworeasonsreasons

The rocks particlesThe rocks particlesare extremely fineare extremely fine--grained, capable ofgrained, capable offossilizing even softfossilizing even softbody parts.body parts.

It so oldIt so oldfrom thefrom theCambrian explosion ofCambrian explosion oflife (505life (505--570 million570 millionyears ago).years ago).


77/81

This is a common organism from theThis is a common organism from theCambrian Period. Its a . . .Cambrian Period. Its a . . . trilobitetrilobite

TheThe Burgess ShaleBurgess Shale revealsreveals phylaphyla that becamethat becameextinct at the end of the Cambrian period.extinct at the end of the Cambrian period.


78/81

This is an arthropod that is aThis is an arthropod that is atotally new species.totally new species.

A bit more of Gods creation is revealed.A bit more of Gods creation is revealed.

If youre really intrigued readIf youre really intrigued read Wonderful LifeWonderful Life by Stephen J.by Stephen J.Gould.Gould.


79/81

Goodbye to theGoodbye to the Burgess Shale.Burgess Shale.


80/81

ColumbiaColumbiaIcefieldIcefield

Jasper NPJasper NP

Banff NPBanff NPYohoYohoNPNP


81/81

NORTH AMERICANNORTH AMERICAN

REGIONSREGIONS

VI. Rocky MountainsVI. Rocky Mountains

e. Alberta and British Columbiae. Alberta and British Columbia

The End

Documents

VIe.rocky Mountains - Alberta and British Columbia