Landform Regions of Landform Regions of CanadaCanada

An OverviewAn Overview

Canada’s LandformsCanada’s Landforms

Canada is made up of three distinct landforms Canada is made up of three distinct landforms – shield, highlands, lowlands.– shield, highlands, lowlands.

There are 7 Landform Regions of Canada.There are 7 Landform Regions of Canada. Where are we?Where are we?

Canada’s Landform RegionsCanada’s Landform Regions

Great Lakes-St.Lawrence LowlandsGreat Lakes-St.Lawrence Lowlands Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains Arctic and Hudson Bay LowlandsArctic and Hudson Bay Lowlands Innuitian MountainsInnuitian Mountains Interior PlainsInterior Plains Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera

The Canadian ShieldThe Canadian Shield

The foundation of Canada, which covers more The foundation of Canada, which covers more than than half of Canadahalf of Canada..

Some of the Some of the world’s oldest rocks world’s oldest rocks are located in are located in the shield (the shield (3.96 billion years old)3.96 billion years old)

Today the Canadian Shield is relatively flat Today the Canadian Shield is relatively flat with rounded hills of rock.with rounded hills of rock.

Money from the ShieldMoney from the Shield

Two types of rock form the shield:Two types of rock form the shield: Igneous and MetamorphicIgneous and Metamorphic

The shield contains valuable minerals:The shield contains valuable minerals: Lead, Gold, Nickel, CopperLead, Gold, Nickel, Copper

Diamonds have also been found in the ancient Diamonds have also been found in the ancient rock.rock.

How did these minerals get there?How did these minerals get there?

Mineral deposits were present in magma that Mineral deposits were present in magma that forced its way into the cracks of the shield.forced its way into the cracks of the shield.

As it cooled, the minerals were deposited into As it cooled, the minerals were deposited into these cracks.these cracks.

This process deposited a wealth of minerals This process deposited a wealth of minerals which are the foundation of our northern which are the foundation of our northern mining industry.mining industry.

Mining TownsMining Towns

Sudbury, OntarioSudbury, Ontario Thompson, ManitobaThompson, Manitoba Yellowknife, NWT.Yellowknife, NWT.

They rely on the minerals of the shield to create They rely on the minerals of the shield to create jobs and generate exports to be sent across jobs and generate exports to be sent across Canada and the World.Canada and the World.

The Canadian Shield - continuedThe Canadian Shield - continued

The shield is not well suited for farmingThe shield is not well suited for farming It is an It is an ideal place for recreation ideal place for recreation because of because of

the scenic rivers, forests, waterfalls, lakes, and the scenic rivers, forests, waterfalls, lakes, and rock outcrops.rock outcrops.

The glaciers gouged out depressions in the The glaciers gouged out depressions in the bedrock which created thousands of lakes.bedrock which created thousands of lakes.

The bedrock is impervious so the water stays.The bedrock is impervious so the water stays.

The LowlandsThe Lowlands

The bedrock under the lowlands is formed The bedrock under the lowlands is formed mainly of sediments eroded from the Shield.mainly of sediments eroded from the Shield.

The sediments were laid down in the seas that The sediments were laid down in the seas that existed millions of years ago, and the existed millions of years ago, and the compression formed sedimentary rock.compression formed sedimentary rock.

Interior PlainsInterior Plains

Part of the Great Plains of North America.Part of the Great Plains of North America. The inland seas that formed these The inland seas that formed these contained contained

coral reefs,coral reefs, that eventually eroded away and that eventually eroded away and compressed deep below the surface.compressed deep below the surface.

These ancient reefs formed into the These ancient reefs formed into the famous oil famous oil and gas depositsand gas deposits of Alberta. of Alberta.

Interior Plains - continuedInterior Plains - continued The differential erosion of the sedimentary The differential erosion of the sedimentary

rock has created escarpment of hard to erode rock has created escarpment of hard to erode material.material.

Glacial erosion created the many lakes across Glacial erosion created the many lakes across the plains including Lake Winnipeg.the plains including Lake Winnipeg.

The soil that developed on the sediments is The soil that developed on the sediments is very fertile and as a result the Prairies have very fertile and as a result the Prairies have become our ‘become our ‘breadbasket’, because of the breadbasket’, because of the production of wheat.production of wheat.

Great Lakes - St. Lawrence LowlandsGreat Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands

This region consists of two parts that are This region consists of two parts that are separated by a thin line of the Shield.separated by a thin line of the Shield.

Similar to the Interior Plains, the inland seas Similar to the Interior Plains, the inland seas formed sedimentary rock.formed sedimentary rock.

The differential erosion can be seen at the The differential erosion can be seen at the Niagara Escarpment.Niagara Escarpment.

Great LakesGreat Lakes

The Great Lakes portion was heavily affected The Great Lakes portion was heavily affected by glaciation. Evidence can be seen in the by glaciation. Evidence can be seen in the rolling landscape.rolling landscape.

The Great Lakes are located in basins that The Great Lakes are located in basins that were gouged out by glaciers.were gouged out by glaciers.

The lakes used to be much bigger, and the old The lakes used to be much bigger, and the old shorelines can still be seen today.shorelines can still be seen today.

St. Lawrence LowlandsSt. Lawrence Lowlands Formed by a rift valley that developed by Formed by a rift valley that developed by

faulting. faulting. The rift valley was flooded at the end of the last The rift valley was flooded at the end of the last

ice age.ice age.

This landform region is great for agriculture This landform region is great for agriculture because of excellent soil and warm climate.because of excellent soil and warm climate.

About About 50% of Canada’s population 50% of Canada’s population lives in this lives in this region, which comprises only 14% of Canada’s region, which comprises only 14% of Canada’s area.area.

Hudson Bay – Arctic LowlandsHudson Bay – Arctic Lowlands

A very flat and low lying area of swamps.A very flat and low lying area of swamps. The Arctic lowlands are made up of a series of The Arctic lowlands are made up of a series of

islands in Canada’s far north.islands in Canada’s far north. The harsh climate does not permit farming, as The harsh climate does not permit farming, as

the ground is permafrost.the ground is permafrost. The sedimentary rock contains coal, oil, and The sedimentary rock contains coal, oil, and

natural gas deposits.natural gas deposits.

Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains

Stretch from Georgia to Newfoundland.Stretch from Georgia to Newfoundland. Oldest highland region in Canada, and Oldest highland region in Canada, and

millions of years of erosion have reduced them millions of years of erosion have reduced them to rolling mountains and hills.to rolling mountains and hills.

Glaciation played a big role in the erosion.Glaciation played a big role in the erosion. Drowned Coastline was formed when river Drowned Coastline was formed when river

valleys were drowned by rising sea levels. valleys were drowned by rising sea levels. Major harbours were created by this.Major harbours were created by this.

Innuitian MountainsInnuitian Mountains

They measure up to They measure up to 2500 metres in height in 2500 metres in height in Canada’s far north.Canada’s far north.

Formed in the Mesozoic when the North Formed in the Mesozoic when the North American Plate moved north.American Plate moved north.

They are younger than the Appalachians, so They are younger than the Appalachians, so erosion has not affected them as much.erosion has not affected them as much.

These mountains are barren due to their These mountains are barren due to their location above the tree line.location above the tree line.

Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera

The great height and rugged appearance tell us The great height and rugged appearance tell us they are younger mountains.they are younger mountains.

Created by the Created by the collision of the North American collision of the North American and Pacific plates.and Pacific plates.

They run in a north-south direction and present They run in a north-south direction and present a barrier for transportation.a barrier for transportation.

The mountains contain many alpine glaciers The mountains contain many alpine glaciers that are actively carving the ranges.that are actively carving the ranges.

Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera

There are three major mountain divisions:There are three major mountain divisions:

1.1. Eastern MountainsEastern Mountains Rocky Mountains and Columbia MountainsRocky Mountains and Columbia Mountains

2.2. Interior PlateausInterior Plateaus Okanagan Valley – fruit basket of CanadaOkanagan Valley – fruit basket of Canada

3.3. Coast MountainsCoast Mountains Many fjords formed after glaciation.Many fjords formed after glaciation.

Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera

The continuous movement of the North The continuous movement of the North American and Pacific plate make the Coast American and Pacific plate make the Coast Mountain area the most active earthquake Mountain area the most active earthquake centre of Canada.centre of Canada.

In the past In the past 70 years there have been more than 70 years there have been more than 100 earthquakes100 earthquakes..