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Physical Regions of Canada

Geography

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Did you know…?

  • Canada is the 2nd largest country in the WORLD (4,8000 km N to S and 5,000 km E to W)
  • Canada has 243,000 km of coastline… the longest in the world
  • Only borders ONE other country (which one?)
  • The Great Lakes are the largest source of freshwater in the world
  • The oldest rocks on EARTH (4.28 billions years old!) are found in Canada

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What is Physical Geography?

  • Study of natural features and phenomena of the earth’s surface
  • Landforms (mountains), climates, soils, vegetation, surface water

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Why does Canada look the way it does?

  • Canada was formed by a number of GEOLOGICAL processes
  • Mountains → tectonic plates colliding
  • Valleys → glaciation
  • Exposed rocks, soils → retreating glaciers
    • 1.5 millions year ago all of Canada was under ice

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What do you notice about these images?

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Regions...

  • Divide the country into areas of similar physical features, vegetation, soils
  • Canada has 7 PHYSIOGRAPHIC regions

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Western Cordillera

  • West coast of N. America
  • Mtn ranges separated by plateaus & valleys
  • Climate: ??
  • Industry: ??

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Western Cordillera

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  • Climate: WET! Mild seasons (maritime climate)
  • Industry: Logging, mining (lead, copper, gold, zinc), tourism

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Intermountain

  • Area between the Rocky & Coastal Mountain ranges (Interior BC)
  • Climate: ?? Industry: ??

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Intermountain

  • Climate: Dry, semi-desert, continental climate
  • Industry: Tourism, agriculture

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Interior Plains

  • Central N. America
  • Flat plains or rolling hills & deep river valleys
  • Climate: ??
  • Industry: ??

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Interior Plains

  • Climate: COLD winters, hot summers → continental climate (extremes)
  • Industry: Agriculture, ranching, natural resources (oil!)

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Canadian Shield

  • Largest region (area surrounding Hudson’s Bay)
  • Many lakes, rivers, low mountains and bogs
  • Climate: ??
  • Industry: ??

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Canadian Shield

  • Climate: Varies (as region is so large!), but high precipitation
  • Industry: Mining, power (hydroelectric), logging

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St. Lawrence Lowlands

  • Smallest region (but most populated!)
  • Rolling hills, many rivers (glaciation), and Great Lakes
  • Climate: ?? Industry: ??

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St. Lawrence Lowlands

  • Climate: Continental
  • Industry: Manufacturing (why here?), mining, forestry

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Appalachian

  • East coast
  • Old, low mountains, plateaus, valleys, islands
  • Climate: ??
  • Industry: ??

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Appalachian

  • Climate: High precipitation, violent storms, hot summers & cold winters
  • Industry: Fishing, manufacturing, tourism

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Arctic

  • Far North
  • Little precipitation
  • Climate: ??
  • Industry: ??

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Arctic

  • Climate: Severe → long, cold & dark winters (10 months!)
  • Industry: Fishing, hunting, trapping, mining (oil), tourism

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