Canada’s Landform Regions

Canada’s 7 Landform Regions

The Creation of Canada’s Landforms

Erosion 1. Precambrian Canada Transportation Transportation Deposition Canadian Shield Erosion Transportation Transportation Canadian Shield Deposition Deposition Plate Collision 2. Paleozoic Canada Canadian Shield Appalachians Folded Mountains

Glaciers!!! – ended about 20 000 years ago Western Cordillera 3. Mesozoic Canada Plate Collision Western Cordillera Canadian Shield 4. Cenozoic Canada Glaciers!!! – ended about 20 000 years ago Western Cordillera Appalachians Canadian Shield Interior Plains Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands

1. Canadian Shield Where is it: It covers almost half of Canada When did it form: It formed about 3 billion years ago Mostly igneous rock

More on the Canadian Shield

What does it look like: It is covered by thousands of lakes Lots of low hills Pine forests Who lives there: Not many people, a few smaller cities like Sudbury and Thunder Bay, lots of campers and cottagers in the summer

What kind of industries/jobs are there? Metallic Minerals: lead, gold, nickel, copper, zinc, diamonds Forestry Tourism

Near Kingston, Ontario

2. Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands Where is it: In ON and QU, along the river and lakeshores When did it form: sedimentary rock in the Paleozoic

What does it look like: Flat land or gentle hills Lots of farmland Who lives there: Is heavily populated, two thirds of Canadians live here Cities like Toronto, Montreal

What kind of industries/jobs are there? Farming (esp. dairy) Tourism Manufacturing

3. Appalachians Where is it: NB, NS, PEI, parts of QU and NFD When did it form: About 250 million years ago

What does it look like: Low, round hills Covered with forests Who lives there: About one tenth of Canada’s population, cities like Halifax and Saint John Many small fishing communities

What kind of industries/jobs are there? Fishing, tourism, farming Sedimentary Rock - Non-metallic Minerals/Fossil fuels e.g. Coal

4. Interior Plains Where is it: In AB, SK, MN, NWT When did it form: 200 million years ago Once was a huge inland sea

What does it look like: Very flat ground Few trees, mostly grasslands Lots of farms Who lives there Lots of cities like Calgary and Regina

What industries/jobs are there? Fossil fuels Agriculture, esp. Grains Called Canada’s “Bread Basket”

5. Western Cordillera Where is it: BC and YK When did it form: 65 million years old

What does it look like: Tall pointed mountains Deep valleys Who lives there: About one eighth of our population, cities like Vancouver and Victoria

What industries/jobs are there? Tourism Mining Farming

6. Arctic Where is it: In NWT and NU

What does it look like: Quite flat, few small rounded hills Who lives there: Only a few very small communities

7. Innuitian Mountains Where is it: The islands of NU and NWT When did it form: The Mesozoic

What does it look like: High, pointy mountains Glaciers, icebergs, and valleys Who lives there: Almost no one lives there