By this time the glacier had contracted to the north freeing most of the north shore of the St. Lawrence and fresh water replaced salt water in the upper portion of the valley. Deciduous trees such as white birch and aspen along with more southerly conifers as represented by tamarack and fir begin to encroach on the open spruce and tundra plant communities.
Courtesy: National Film Board of Canada
(Adapted from Pierre J.H. Richard, Couvert vΘgΘtal et palΘoenvironnements du QuΘbec entre 12 000 et 8 000 ans BP, Recherches amΘrindiennes au QuΘbec, XV (1985)
