Geography of Manitoba - Environmental Geography

Environmental Geography

Manitoba has an extreme climate, but southern latitudes allow agriculture. The northern area of the region ranges from coniferous forests to muskeg to tundra in the far north. Before settlement had occurred, a vast portion of southern Manitoba was either flood plain or swamp. An extensive system for drainage ditches were required throughout south-central Manitoba to make the region suitable for cultivation.

Boreal forests of the southern part of the province have extensive Black Spruce and White Spruce forests. The tundra region of northern Manitoba exhibits more sparse Black Spruce forests whose tree heights are limited by the thin soils, permafrost underlayer and generally cold climate. In this region Polar Bears are found, denning in the Wapusk National Park and migrating to hunt for seals when pack ice forms on Hudson Bay.