Suspended sediment load in select Canadian rivers

Glaciers retreated 10 000 years ago, leaving large amounts of easily erodible material across much of western Canada. In mountainous areas (e.g., the Fraser, Peace, and upper Mackenzie rivers), steepness and abundant water supply enable large amounts of sediment to be carried away. In contrast, the flat and dry conditions of the Prairies result in much lower sediment loads. In eastern Canada, where much of the land is bedrock, there is a limited sediment supply and therefore smaller loads. 

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