With permafrost to the north, deserts to the south, and an ever-changing geography from coast to coast, Canada is home to an amazing array of forests, each with its own distinct flora and fauna.
Canada's Boreal forest is immense, swinging in an arc from the Rocky Mountains and the Alaskan border, down across the top of the Great Lakes, and back up to northern Newfoundland and Labrador. As it extends north, it becomes increasingly thinner with fewer species until it reaches the tundra where no tree grows at all.
The Boreal forest is what typically comes to mind when people think of Canadaa wall of conifer trees covered with snow. And while conifers do dominate the landscape, the Boreal forest does have a smattering of deciduous trees daring enough to take on its harsh environment. One of them is the Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), one of Canada's hardiest deciduous trees. No other North American hardwood grows this far north. And while the Balsam Poplar does well among the conifers, it prefers open areas near water.
Specifications
No. 143297
Mintage 8500
Composition 99.99% pure silver
Finish proof
Weight (g) 31.39
Diameter (mm) 38
Edge serrated
Certificate serialized
Face value 20 dollars
Artist Margaret Best (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)