Eskers
Eskers are long winding ridges of sand and gravel formed by glacier waters. They are frequently several kilometres long, and up to 100 m in height. Esker formations are very important to various Aboriginal peoples and wildlife and are often the only well-drained semi-continuous ridges over vast landscapes. Eskers were traditionally used as burial sites for Aboriginal people. They are also prime habitat for a variety of denning animals, such as wolves, foxes and bears, and form prime travel corridors for numerous species. Lichens are abundant on eskers, making them important habitat for caribou. With their exposed tops and steep, protected sides, they provide micro-habitats for a diversity of plants.
While eskers do not cover a large percentage of the landscape, they are concentrated areas of biological and cultural importance. The eskers mapped by the PAS Science Team (see map here) were extracted from 1:250,000 NTS maps.
