A mountain in the Prairies - the riding mountain biosphere reserve, Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

When one approaches Riding Mountain from the east and north, this segment of the Manitoba Escarpment rises steeply from the flat plain of the former glacial lake Agassiz to form the Second Prairie Level. To the south and west, though, Riding Mountain gently blends into the adjacent morainic landscapes. For the native Anishinabe, Wagiiwing (Riding Mountain) represented a "vision of a mountainous landscape that holds everything the many creatures depend upon for survival and sanctuary" (Parks Canada 2007: 5). Early European colonists and contemporary local residents have always considered this section of the Manitoba Escarpment a mountain with a distinct individuality and specific geomorphological and ecological features.