[3] In addition to the area's rich mineral deposits, active industries exist in forestry and tourism.

To the east are the Taiga Plains, and to the west is Alaska, though the ecozone is also adjacent to narrow strips of the Pacific Maritime.

[5] The northern plateaux within the ecozone have a fairly gentle terrain, broken by numerous watercourses running through them, and are separated by wide valleys and their lowlands.

[5] Alpine weather is more typical beyond the tree line at elevations above 1000 m, where frost can develop year-round.

[11] Sudden violent storms may occur in the area during the summer, usually due to moist air masses arriving from the Pacific Ocean.