1. Canada’s Physical Geography Canada’s physical geography is as diverse as any country in the world! Canada’s physical geography is as diverse as any country in the world! There are 3 major landform types found in Canada. They are: There are 3 major landform types found in Canada. They are: The SHIELDThe SHIELD The LOWLANDSThe LOWLANDS The HIGHLANDSThe HIGHLANDS

2. The Canadian Shield Lakes, rocks, and forests…

3. Where is the Canadian Shield? The Shield is Canada’s largest landform region… by far. The Shield is Canada’s largest landform region… by far.

4. The Canadian Shield Formed 4 billion years ago by volcanism; magma cooled and became IGNEOUS rock (granite) Formed 4 billion years ago by volcanism; magma cooled and became IGNEOUS rock (granite) While the magma cooled, metallic minerals seeped into cracks; these metals are part of Canada’s mining industry (nickel, gold, silver) While the magma cooled, metallic minerals seeped into cracks; these metals are part of Canada’s mining industry (nickel, gold, silver)

5. The Canadian Shield The Shield has been eroding for billions of years by wind, rain, rivers, glaciers and other weathering processes The Shield has been eroding for billions of years by wind, rain, rivers, glaciers and other weathering processes Today, the Shield is mainly flat and rocky with lakes filling holes carved out by glaciers; Today, the Shield is mainly flat and rocky with lakes filling holes carved out by glaciers;

6. The Canadian Shield glaciers scraped away much of the soil; soils are thin and the granite is exposed; as a result, farming does not occur on the Shield. glaciers scraped away much of the soil; soils are thin and the granite is exposed; as a result, farming does not occur on the Shield. The Shield is covered by coniferous forests (pine, spruce, cedar) which can survive the cold, harsh climate and thin soils. The Shield is covered by coniferous forests (pine, spruce, cedar) which can survive the cold, harsh climate and thin soils.

7. The Canadian Shield Major industries: Major industries: Mining towns (Sudbury– nickel)Mining towns (Sudbury– nickel) Forestry towns (Kirkland Lake)Forestry towns (Kirkland Lake) Pulp and paper towns (Ottawa-Hull)Pulp and paper towns (Ottawa-Hull)

8. The Canadian Shield Due to the wide network of lakes and rivers on the Shield, another major industry is the production of hydroelectric power; Due to the wide network of lakes and rivers on the Shield, another major industry is the production of hydroelectric power; Rivers are dammed to produce 60% of Canada’s electricity Rivers are dammed to produce 60% of Canada’s electricity

9. The Lowlands Sedimentary rocks, thick soils, and cities… Sedimentary rocks, thick soils, and cities…

10. The Lowland Regions Made up of 2 major regions: Made up of 2 major regions: Great Lakes/St. Lawrence lowlandsGreat Lakes/St. Lawrence lowlands Interior plains (the “prairies”)Interior plains (the “prairies”) Plus the Hudson Bay/ Arctic LowlandsPlus the Hudson Bay/ Arctic Lowlands

11. Where are the Lowlands? Interior Plains Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowlands Hudson Bay Lowlands

12. The Lowland Regions The erosion of the Canadian Shield and the Highlands created layers of sediment that settled in shallow tropical seas; over millions of years, sedimentary rock formed. The erosion of the Canadian Shield and the Highlands created layers of sediment that settled in shallow tropical seas; over millions of years, sedimentary rock formed. Within the layers of sediment, dead organisms (plants and animals) became trapped and fossilized Within the layers of sediment, dead organisms (plants and animals) became trapped and fossilized

13. The Lowlands– Interior Plains Characterized by generally flat but rolling landscape; Characterized by generally flat but rolling landscape; Thick, fertile soils covered by grassland; Thick, fertile soils covered by grassland; Fossilized remains of ancient coral reefs, trapped in the sedimentary rock, transformed over millions of years into oil and gas deposits; Fossilized remains of ancient coral reefs, trapped in the sedimentary rock, transformed over millions of years into oil and gas deposits;

14. The Lowlands– Interior Plains Important to Canada because of: Important to Canada because of: AgricultureAgriculture Wheat Wheat Cattle Cattle Oil and gasOil and gas

15. The Lowlands– Interior Plains Even though the land is relatively flat, there are a series of escarpments created by the differential erosion of glaciers Even though the land is relatively flat, there are a series of escarpments created by the differential erosion of glaciers Escarpments form when a harder rock layer that overlays a softer layer resists erosion Escarpments form when a harder rock layer that overlays a softer layer resists erosion

16. The Lowlands– Great Lakes/St Lawrence Lowlands Gently rolling hills covered with mixed forest (deciduous and coniferous trees); Gently rolling hills covered with mixed forest (deciduous and coniferous trees); Thick, fertile soils used for farming (especially tender fruit crops on the Niagara Escarpment); Thick, fertile soils used for farming (especially tender fruit crops on the Niagara Escarpment); Dominated by URBANIZATION; Dominated by URBANIZATION; Location of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin; Location of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin;

17. The Lowlands– Great Lakes/St Lawrence Lowlands The Great Lakes are located in basins that were gouged out by glaciers; when the glaciers melted, they left huge lakes (even bigger than they are today!) The Great Lakes are located in basins that were gouged out by glaciers; when the glaciers melted, they left huge lakes (even bigger than they are today!)

18. The Lowlands– Great Lakes/St Lawrence Lowlands This region is the most southerly region in Canada; This region is the most southerly region in Canada; It is well suited to farming because of its excellent soils and warm climate; It is well suited to farming because of its excellent soils and warm climate;

19. The Lowlands– Great Lakes/St Lawrence Lowlands The Niagara Escarpment: The Niagara Escarpment: Formed by differential erosion;Formed by differential erosion; World famous for grapes that make wine; other tender fruit crops include peaches and cherries;World famous for grapes that make wine; other tender fruit crops include peaches and cherries; Lake Ontario keeps the vineyards cool in the summer and warmer in the winter;Lake Ontario keeps the vineyards cool in the summer and warmer in the winter; Niagara Falls produces a significant amount of hydroelectric power;Niagara Falls produces a significant amount of hydroelectric power;

20. The Lowlands– Great Lakes/St Lawrence Lowlands 50% of Canada’s population lives in the Great Lakes/St Lawrence lowlands even though it’s only 1.4% of Canada’s land area; 50% of Canada’s population lives in the Great Lakes/St Lawrence lowlands even though it’s only 1.4% of Canada’s land area; The region is dominated by CITIES– including Canada’s 2 largest cities (Toronto & Montreal); The region is dominated by CITIES– including Canada’s 2 largest cities (Toronto & Montreal); The region is Canada’s manufacturing centre; 70% of Canada’s manufacturing industries are located here; The region is Canada’s manufacturing centre; 70% of Canada’s manufacturing industries are located here; Toronto Montreal

21. The Lowlands– Hudson Bay/ Arctic Lowlands This region is located around the southwestern shore of Hudson Bay; This region is located around the southwestern shore of Hudson Bay; It is a flat, low area covered by swampy forest; It is a flat, low area covered by swampy forest; The harsh climate does not permit farming; a lot of the soil is permafrost (permanently frozen); The harsh climate does not permit farming; a lot of the soil is permafrost (permanently frozen);

22. The Highlands Mountains, glaciers, and more mountains! Mountains, glaciers, and more mountains! The Appalachians The Innuitians The Rockies

23. Where are the Highlands located? EAST of the Shield and Lowlands: Appalachians EAST of the Shield and Lowlands: Appalachians WEST of the Shield and Lowlands: Western Cordillera WEST of the Shield and Lowlands: Western Cordillera NORTH of the Shield and Lowlands: Innuitians NORTH of the Shield and Lowlands: Innuitians

24. The Highlands-- Appalachians North America’s oldest mountain range– 300 million years old! North America’s oldest mountain range– 300 million years old! Sedimentary rock was uplifted and folded when the North American plate collided with Europe and northern Africa; Sedimentary rock was uplifted and folded when the North American plate collided with Europe and northern Africa; Millions of years of EROSION have made these mountains more like rounded, rolling hills; Millions of years of EROSION have made these mountains more like rounded, rolling hills;

25. The Highlands-- Appalachians Sedimentary rocks are surrounded by igneous and metamorphic rocks (formed by volcanism); Sedimentary rocks are surrounded by igneous and metamorphic rocks (formed by volcanism); Sedimentary rock layers are rich in layers of coal; coal mining is a major industry in the Appalachians; Sedimentary rock layers are rich in layers of coal; coal mining is a major industry in the Appalachians; The region is home to “drowned coastlines”– excellent harbours for large cities; The region is home to “drowned coastlines”– excellent harbours for large cities;

26. The Highlands-- Innuitians Canada’s huge mountains in the Arctic– formed 150 million years ago; Canada’s huge mountains in the Arctic– formed 150 million years ago; Contain some igneous and metamorphic rock, but are mostly composed of folded SEDIMENTARY rock; Contain some igneous and metamorphic rock, but are mostly composed of folded SEDIMENTARY rock; Barren, treeless mountains covered in snow and icy glaciers; Barren, treeless mountains covered in snow and icy glaciers; Mining doesn’t occur due to the remote location in Canada’s high Arctic; Mining doesn’t occur due to the remote location in Canada’s high Arctic;

27. The Highlands– Western Cordillera Canada’s youngest mountains– approximately 100 million years old; Canada’s youngest mountains– approximately 100 million years old; Made up of 3 distinct mountain ranges: Coast Mountains, Columbia Mountains, and Rocky Mountains; Made up of 3 distinct mountain ranges: Coast Mountains, Columbia Mountains, and Rocky Mountains; Formed by the collision of the Pacific plate and the North American plate; Formed by the collision of the Pacific plate and the North American plate; The folding, faulting, and volcanic activity caused by the collision resulted in the ranges of the Western Cordillera; The folding, faulting, and volcanic activity caused by the collision resulted in the ranges of the Western Cordillera;

28. The Highlands– Western Cordillera The north-south direction of the Western Cordillera makes transportation from the east to the west difficult; only a few mountain passes allow railways and highways through the range; The north-south direction of the Western Cordillera makes transportation from the east to the west difficult; only a few mountain passes allow railways and highways through the range; The growth of the major cities in the region (Vancouver & Victoria) are limited by the presence of the mountains; The growth of the major cities in the region (Vancouver & Victoria) are limited by the presence of the mountains; Most of the Western Cordillera is lightly populated because it’s so mountainous; Most of the Western Cordillera is lightly populated because it’s so mountainous;

29. The Highlands– Western Cordillera Outside of Vancouver & Victoria, most people live in farming and mining towns in river valleys; Outside of Vancouver & Victoria, most people live in farming and mining towns in river valleys; Mountain towns like Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper have small populations but are very important tourist destinations; Mountain towns like Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper have small populations but are very important tourist destinations; Tourists come to see the spectacular scenery and the only remaining glaciers south of the Arctic. Tourists come to see the spectacular scenery and the only remaining glaciers south of the Arctic.

30. Canada’s Physiography Canada’s diversity is found across the 3 landform types: Canada’s diversity is found across the 3 landform types: Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield LowlandsLowlands HighlandsHighlands WHAT A COUNTRY!WHAT A COUNTRY!