As a river emerges from the mountains, a million stories and tales related to it also comes into existence. A river flows, by creating its paths through the rocks, forests, and the cities, to go and meet the ocean. A river mapping its path just like animals searching their prey and people going to work has its unique tale. Here the story is of the remote Coppermine River in the Canadian Arctic.
Geology surrounding the river
The Candian River Coppermine has rocks sculpted around it that were present over 1.5 billion years ago. It was when the earliest multicellular life was about to emerge. By studying and sampling the rocks along the riverbank, you can expand your knowledge and understanding about early life on Earth. The Coppermine River flows through the high Arctic landscape, cutting the most natural path through a remote part of the world. Then the Candian River Coppermine reaches the Arctic Ocean and the Inuit settlement of Kugluktuk.
Each layer of the Coppermine River shows the time capsule of marine conditions over a billion years ago. From the very top of the mountain, you can see cliff after cliff and expose cliffs of ancient sedimentary rock. Once these were deposited at the bottom of an ocean and now make up vast areas of northern Canada.
Footprints of ancient times beside the river
The Canadian heritage river has rocks with layers that contain evidence of ancient microbial life. The river also holds evidence of a huge volcanic eruption known as the Mackenzie volcanic event. It has over 150 lavas flows piled on top of each other. The volcano eruption in the Coppermine River was similar to the Columbia River. These volcanic eruptions are known for having had a massive impact on the Earth’s climate and life system. It is believed to be one of the primary reasons for massive extinctions in the past. The impact of the volcanic eruptions is seen on the landscape of the Canadian heritage river.
The journey of the river
The Coppermine River also has green mountains beside it in some particular area. These mountains are made up of endless layers of dark lava, and a gentle, wide river flows between them. The mountains then give way to steep-walled valleys of red sandstone overlying the lavas. The sandstones are fluvial sediments laid by another river a billion years ago. You can easily locate the path of the ancient river as the ripples and mud cracks are present to narrate the tale of an ancient river. The river further continues its journey through spectacular canyons and gorges. Near to its endpoint, the river reaches light-colored sandstone rocks and darker rocks known as shales. These rocks suggest that the level of the sea might have risen after the deposition of the fluvial rocks.
The endpoint of the river
The Coppermine River then winds its way towards its endpoint to the Arctic coast at Kugluktuk on Coronation Gulf, Nunavut. On its way, the shales nearby the river contain small black flakes, which are evidence of organic material suggesting the presence of microfossils. The river contains thousands of stories about life that must have been able to live through a vast volcanic event. Additionally, this Canadian heritage river is rich in wildlife and other marine species as well. The river also has bears, muskoxen, and caribou for the company. The river also has a magnificent landscape made up of rocks that tells us the story of the struggles of early life on our planet.
So, the Coppermine River gives us an insight into the early life on Earth and the diversity of nature.
