Several times during the past two million years the climate grew cold enough to allow the thick ice sheets on Baffin Island to expand in size and merge with other large ice sheets. Slowly these thickening ice masses spread outwards until they covered most of Canada and the northern United States. The force of these moving continental glaciers was great enough to carve out the Great Lakes and create the hills and valleys of central and southern Canada. Lichens provide evidence that alpine glaciers in the area have advanced and retreated several times over the past 3,000 years, and most recently only a hundred years ago. The bright masses of purple, yellow and white flowers are visible from a great distance.
Plants grow in clumps to conserve warmth.
Mountain streams and endless sunshine help to compensate for cool temperatures and short growing seasons. Many arctic plants grow in tussocks or mounds that are built up by their root systems year after year. These plants reproduce vegetatively from a central root stock by sending out new roots or runners. Seeds are less likely to survive the harsh arctic growing conditions. Please remember that plants and animals in national parks are protected.