Introduction to Canada

2nd largest country in the world in terms of land mass

Bering Strait

Brief History

• Mostly colonized by French and English• After a series of wars, the French were forced

to surrender their Canadian territories to the English in the 1700’s.– Canada is a bilingual country – speaking two

languages • Remained a British possession until 1867

when it was granted self-ruling status

Provinces – like states

Canadian Physical Geography• Much of Canada’s

physical landscape was shaped by glaciers during the last ice age. – Lots of lakes– Canadian Shield – area

scraped of top soil by ice sheet.

Population Density

Canada’s BiomesTundra• Not many trees because of permafrost – mostly just shrubs,

mosses, and grasses• Very dry – any precipitation that falls is snow• Inside the Arctic Circle so:

– Dark winters – sun barely rising or not rising at all– Light summers – sun not fully setting

Canada’s BiomesTaiga• Mostly coniferous forests• Animals here hibernate or migrate to the south during the winter

months (-65 to 30° F).• Short, warmer summers with lots of rain

Canada’s BiomesAlpine• High elevations • Cold long winters• Short warmer summers• Sandy, rocky soil – low growing plants and coniferous trees• Mammals usually hibernate in winter