This ecoregion occurs south of Lake Melville and the Mealy Mountains in southern Labrador. The climate is continental and is not affected by the Atlantic Ocean. The mean annual temperature is approximately 1°C. The mean summer temperature is 8.5°C and the mean winter temperature is -11°C. The mean annual precipitation ranges 900-1150 mm. The ecoregion is classified as having a low subarctic ecoclimate. Extensive string bogs with much open water dominate this ecoregion (25-50%). Open pools are surrounded by fen vegetation, dominated by sedges, brown mosses, and sphagnum mosses. String bogs are dominated by open, dwarf black spruce, some tamarack, Labrador tea, and feathermoss. Low, open and sometimes closed cover patches of black spruce with an understory of dwarf birch, Labrador tea, lichens, and mosses are found only on bedrock-controlled slopes approaching the Mealy Mountains. Black spruce is the climax species. Alder thickets are common along riverbanks and drainageways. This ecoregion is basically a level to gently undulating peatland area interrupted only by a few conspicuous eskers, exposed bedrock highs, and shallow rivers. Underlain by massive Archean granites, gneisses, and acidic intrusives, the surface is thinly covered by hummocky, bouldery, sandy morainal veneers. Mesisols and Fibrisols are the dominant soils with significant inclusions of Ferro-Humic Podzols, Dystric Brunisols, and Organic Cryosols. Permafrost is sporadically distributed, and occurs mainly in peatlands. This ecoregion provides habitat for caribou, moose, black bear, red fox, lynx, and waterfowl. Opportunities exist for hunting, trapping, salmon fishing, and water-oriented recreation.
This ecoregion is part of the Taiga Shield ecozone.