How did continental glaciers shape Saskatchewan’s landforms?

Continental glaciation profoundly shaped Saskatchewan’s landscape, creating a distinct divide between the northern and southern regions of the province.1

The Northern Shield

In the northern third of the province, which is part of the Canadian Shield, glaciers scoured and molded the bedrock. This process produced a rugged landscape characterized by rocky outcrops, basins, and a complex network of lakes and rivers. Glacial deposits in this region are typically thin and discontinuous.12

The Southern Plains

The southern two-thirds of the province are covered by a veneer of sediments deposited by ice sheets and their meltwaters. Key features include:1
* Hummocky Moraine: Rolling hills of coarse-grained glacial sediments, which are primarily utilized for ranching.1
* River Valleys: Spectacular valleys, such as those of the Qu’Appelle River and the North and South Saskatchewan rivers, were carved by meltwaters during the retreat of the ice sheets.1
* Glacial Lakes: The Laurentide Ice Sheet blocked natural drainage, leading to the formation of large ice-margin lakes like Lake Agassiz. The fine, fertile silt that settled on the floors of these former lakes now supports significant agricultural activity.134

Notably, the Cypress Hills in the southwest are the only part of the province that escaped glaciation.1