Landform Regions of Landform Regions of CanadaCanada

An important theme in Geography is Space

Not Outer Space

The area of the earth is 150,000,000 sq km

The area of Canada is 9,976,140 sq km

Land Form RegionsLand Form RegionsIn order to help describe the Large space that Canada occupies, Canada has been divided in a number of different way.

One way in which Canada has been divided is politically.

Land Form RegionsLand Form RegionsToday we are concerned with “Landform Regions”

A landform region is an part of the earth with a unique set of physical A landform region is an part of the earth with a unique set of physical features that people often use to meet their needs.features that people often use to meet their needs.

So when we are talking about Land Form regions we are talking about Physical Characteristics.

Cartoon character

Mushroom cut

Short Shorts

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

Lakes

Igneous Rock

Christmas Trees (Coniferous Trees)

Few People

Land Form Regions of CanadaLand Form Regions of CanadaCanada has Seven Land Form Regions

Can you think of where these Regions might be located?

Hint: Think of the Various Physical Characteristics of the Provinces and Territories

So Why Does Canada have different Physical So Why Does Canada have different Physical Characteristics in different Regions?Characteristics in different Regions?

Well… Not all of Canada is the Same age….

The longer the region has been around the longer it has been effected by the forces of Erosion. Older Region = More ErosionOlder Region = More Erosion

Your Text book compares the growth of Canada to Your Text book compares the growth of Canada to a Tree Trunk growing out from the center.a Tree Trunk growing out from the center.

But Canada did not grow Evenly….

The Seven Land Form Regions of The Seven Land Form Regions of Canada are…Canada are…

The Canadian ShieldThe Canadian ShieldCharacteristics

Formed by Volcanoes Formed by Volcanoes starting 3 billion years ago.

Igneous and Metamorphic RockIgneous and Metamorphic Rock.

Glaciers = Billions of years of ErosionGlaciers = Billions of years of Erosion … they scraped away much of the soil and marked the land with hollows and depressions.

This created a land of lakes and This created a land of lakes and swamps swamps some glacial lakes dried up forming clay belts with good soil.

Great-Lakes St. Lawrence Great-Lakes St. Lawrence LowlandsLowlands

• A Low Lying Area Low Lying Area

• Sedimentary Rock which eroded from the Canadian ShieldSedimentary Rock which eroded from the Canadian Shield.

• Rock is about half a billion years old.

Glaciers deposited Glaciers deposited a lot of soilsoil

Glaciers scraped out large basins = Great LakesGlaciers scraped out large basins = Great Lakes.

Niagara EscarpmentNiagara EscarpmentThe Niagara Escarpment formed because the escarpment is made of hard Limestone rock surrounded by softer sedimentary stone like Sandstone and Shale. Niagara Falls is an example of the Niagara Falls is an example of the Escarpment.Escarpment.

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The AppalachiansThe Appalachians

The mountains of the Appalachian region began to form 250 million years ago

Plate movements forced Sedimentary Plate movements forced Sedimentary rock to fold upwardsrock to fold upwards

Forces of Erosion ground the mountains Forces of Erosion ground the mountains downdown to a fraction of their height and the ocean has eroded the coast line forming many natural harbors.

Interior PlainsInterior PlainsWide open area, with no Mountains and Wide open area, with no Mountains and few trees.few trees.

Mostly 200 million year old sedimentary rocksedimentary rock.

Glaciers deposited very rich soilGlaciers deposited very rich soil

Ancient sea bedsAncient sea beds.

Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera

• Igneous, Metamorphic Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary rocksand Sedimentary rocks.

• Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains• Formed by Volcanos and Formed by Volcanos and

foldingfolding• Interior PlateauInterior Plateau

The InnuitiansThe Innuitians

Another Region formed the same way as the Appalachians and the formed the same way as the Appalachians and the RockiesRockies.

It is the middle childIt is the middle child, older than the Rockies and younger than the Appalachians.

Sedimentary RockSedimentary Rock

Currently covered by Large GlaciersCurrently covered by Large Glaciers.

ArcticArctic

Cold!Cold! The coldest day in Canada was at Pelly Bay, Nunavut. The temperature with the wind chill was -91 Celsius.

Islands = Sedimentary RockIslands = Sedimentary Rock.

The land has been scraped bare by moving Ice = ErosionThe land has been scraped bare by moving Ice = Erosion

Now we have examined Physical Characteristics and Climate but how does it effect us?

Rocks & ResourcesRocks & Resources<Back>

PopulationPopulation<Back>

the Canadian Shieldthe Canadian Shield

Few Major Cities Poor Soil, Coniferous Trees

Hydroelectricity Mining

the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence LowlandsLowlands

EscarpmentLarge Cities

Industrial Heartland

the Appalachiansthe Appalachians

Sedimentary Mountains Many Natural Harbors

A few cities over 100’000

Interior PlainsInterior Plains

Oil and Natural Gas Farming

2 cities nearing 1 million Flat Sedimentary Rock

Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera

TourismSedimentary Mountains

Large population in the Victoria-Vancouver Area Igneous Mountains