Notes (2)

Canada- the second largest country in the world. It lies to the north of the USA. The border between these two countries is the longest unprotected border in the world and one of the only ones where you won’t be stopped by military troops as you cross the border. Like the US, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are to the East and West, respectively. Unlike the US, however, Canada does not have states. Instead, the country is made up of ten provinces and 3 different territories.

Canada’s Landforms

 Glaciers used to cover almost all of Canada during the Ice Age. The ice pushed a lot of the land down, creating a large basin with landforms rising on the eastern, western and northern sides of this basin. Land that got pushed down further created other lesser basins, and this has resulted in Canada’s many lakes and waterways.

Since Canada is so large, geographers have divided it into five physical regions as follows:

The Eastern Highlands

Also known as the Appalachian Highlands. Known for its rolling hills, low mountains, and valleys dotted with tidy working farms. Along the coast, there are a few harbors hidden along the rocky and unsafe coastline.

The St. Lawrence and Great Lakes Lowlands

These lowlands cut across the eastern highland area and continue running West down into the Great Lakes region. The St. Lawrence  and the Great Lakes are major waterways that lead out into the Atlantic Ocean and run along the coast of the Atlantic. This makes these waterways ideal for barges with imports such as grain, coal, ores and many other imports. In the St. Lawrence river valley, there is rich soil, good transportation and many farms… and also a lot of urban life. Much of Canada’s livelihood can be found here.  

The Canadian Shield and the Arctic Islands

The Canadian Shield is a horseshoe-like region that wraps around the Hudson Bay. Included in it is about half, if not more of Canada’s entire land mass. A lot of this area is covered with hills that have been worn down by erosion and the thousands of lakes that were created by glacial pressure so many years ago.

The Interior Plains

The Great Plains region of the US is also known as the Interior Plains of Canada. The northern part of this region is littered with large lakes, while the southern portion is a large prairie with fertile soil and many farms. Years ago, cattle swarmed over these prairies. They were driven out and replaced by cattle ranches and farms.

The Rocky Mountains

This is another landform that Canada shares with the US. The Canadian side of the rockies are known for their exquisite beauty and rich mineral sources. Tourists often come here, mainly going to Banff and Jasper National Park.