Is muskeg the same as peat?

Is muskeg the same as peat?

Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bog or peatland, and is a standard term in Western Canada and Alaska. Muskeg consists of non-living organic material in various states of decomposition (as peat), ranging from fairly intact sphagnum moss, to sedge peat, to highly decomposed humus.

Where does the word muskeg come from?

Muskeg (from Cree maskek and Ojibwe mashkiig, meaning “grassy bog”) is a type of northern landscape characterized by a wet environment, vegetation and peat deposits. Chiefly used in North America, the term muskeg escapes precise scientific definition.

What is under muskeg?

Muskeg consists of �peat� or partially decomposed plant material deposited under saturated soil conditions (MacKenzie and Moran, 2004), ranging from poorly decomposed sphagnum peat moss or sedge peat to highly decomposed muck. Peatmoss is the common factor of muskeg and is where the term peatland is derived from.

What lives in a muskeg?

These species include beaver, mink, short-tailed shrew, muskrat, meadow vole, and masked shrew. Of these animals, beaver and muskrats have the greatest impact on the habitat. Beaver dams can cause significant flooding, while muskrats dig water tunnels through the muskeg.

What does Canada mean as an Indian word?

The name “Canada” likely comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement.” In 1535, two Aboriginal youths told French explorer Jacques Cartier about the route to kanata; they were actually referring to the village of Stadacona, the site of the present-day City of Québec.

What animals are in fens?

This diversity of wildflowers makes fens a magnet for many insects, including butterflies. Fens also provide valuable habitat for deer, turkey and other birds, as well as snakes, turtles and fish. The number of species of plants and animals in fens is higher than other wetlands and far higher than other ecosystems.

Do snakes live in wetlands?

Specially adapted reptiles that are able swimmers are likely to be found in wetlands. Some of these include the common snapping turtle, spotted turtle, northern water snake, cottonmouth snake, diamondback water snake and garter snakes.

What was the purpose of the Bombardier Muskeg?

That was the concept behind the original Bombardier Muskeg, the all-season vehicle that could be used for just about anything. It was rugged, unique and oddly stylish. Originally rolled out to endure the winter-time conditions in the Canadian countryside, the vehicles were originally produced for the Canadian Army during World War II.

When did the term muskeg come into use?

Muskeg. Muskeg [Algonquian, “grassy bog”] is a term describing a type of landscape, environment, vegetation and deposit. It attained widespread use in the 1950s during northward expansion of resource development.

What kind of plants did the muskegs plant?

Rare plants or plants requiring minute inspection for identification, such as sphagnum and other mosses, are not included. Most of the sedges, rushes, and grasses are not included .because they are not easily identified by the amateur botanist.

What are the medicinal uses of muskeg tea?

This plants areused for medicinal purposes. They sooth and heal internal pains and digestive complications such as those relating to the intestine. Other uses inclue soothing and curing ulcers, gall stones, and pains in the diaphragm. The muskeg plants are collected, then tied and bound together in bundles.