- Carton (Wikipedia)
A craton ( /ˈkreɪtɒn/ KRAYT-on, /ˈkrætɒn/ KRAT-on, or /ˈkreɪtən/ KRAY-tən; from Ancient Greek: κράτος kratos “strength”) is an old and stable part of continental lithosphere (the Earth’s two topmost layers, the crust and the lithospheric mantle). Having often survived cycles of merging and rifting of continents, cratons are generally found in the interiors of tectonic plates; the exceptions occur where geologically recent rifting events have separated cratons and created passive margins along their edges. Cratons are composed of ancient crystalline basement rocks covered by younger sedimentary rocks. They have a thick crust and deep lithospheric roots extending several hundred kilometres into Earth’s mantle. In simpler terms, craton is a layer of the earths crust on that has been almost unchanged through all of history. This crust consists of shields and platforms. Shields are made of basement rock and are visible, while platforms is the portion not visible made up of sedimentary rock.
- Samish River Wildlife Area Unit (wdfw.wa.gov)
The Samish River Unit covers 107 acres in northwest Skagit County. The unit was comprised of agricultural land until WDFW acquired it in 2004. The federal Natural Resource Conservation Service holds an easement on the property which allows for 15 acres to be managed with agricultural enhancements for migratory waterfowl forage. The remainder of the unit is a mix of sculpted wetlands, grass fields, and shrub-scrub habitat. Two waterfowl hunting areas on the unit are managed by WDFW’s Private Lands Access Program.