Smoking Hills

The Smoking Hills are located on the east coast of Cape Bathurst[1] in Canada's Northwest Territories, next to the Arctic Ocean and a small group of lakes. The cliffs were named by explorer John Franklin,[2] who was the first European to see them on his 1826 expeditions. They contain strata of hydrocarbons (oil shales), which have been burning continuously for centuries.

Smoking Hills southeast of Cape Bathurst, NT

The fires result from autoignition of sulfur-rich lignite deposits. The clouds of smoke have given the region its name. Over time the sulfur dioxide from the smoke has acidified the shallow ponds (< 1 hectare or 2.5 acres area and < 1 m or 3 ft 3.4 in depth) in the tundra dotting the area, down to a pH lower than 2.[3] Elevated concentrations of metals (aluminium, iron, zinc, nickel, manganese and cadmium) occur in these acidic ponds. Soils and sediments have also been chemically altered. The acidic biota in the ponds are characteristic of acidic environments worldwide, in contrast to the typically Arctic biota in adjacent alkaline ponds.[4] Although the soil of the region contains much limestone, the buffer effect has completely disappeared.[5]

Clouds of smoke from burning sulfur-rich lignite deposits
Eroding mud face continuously exposes new minerals from the Smoking Hills area

Weathering of the coastline of the area leads to the continuous exposure of new mineral deposits from the muds that make up the underlying geology. These are typically colored red when iron-rich.

The nearest community, Paulatuk, which is about 105 km (65 mi) east, is named in recognition of the coal found in the area, traditionally spelt "Paulatuuq" or "place of coal".[6]






See also

References
  1. Freedman, B; Zobens, V; Hutchinson, TC; Gizyn, WI (April 1990). "Intense, Natural Pollution Affects Arctic Tundra Vegetation at the Smoking Hills, Canada". Ecology. 71 (2): 492–503. doi:10.2307/1940303.
  2. "The Smoking Hills". Archived from the original on 2001-02-09. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  3. Jernelöv, Arne; Nagell, Björn; Svenson, Anders (April 1981). "Adaptation to an Acid Environment in Chironomus riparius (Diptera, Chironomidae) from Smoking Hills, NWT, Canada". Ecography. 4 (2): 116–119. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1981.tb00987.x.
  4. Havas, Magda; Hutchinson, Thomas C (1983-01-06). "The Smoking Hills: natural acidification of an aquatic ecosystem". Nature. 301 (5895): 23–27. doi:10.1038/301023a0.
  5. Hubert van den Bergh: "Atmosphère et climat", Notes de cours, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, 2005.
  6. "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-01-13.

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