Regions of Canada Research Template
Interior Plains Region
Topic
Map
Location
(Provinces)
Information
Use Google Search Images to add to Presentation or use one in the template I’ve
given you
Southwestern Manitoba
Southern half of Saskatchewan
Most of Alberta (except northeast corner and mountain regions)
A Strip of Northwest Territories to Beaufort Sea
A section of Eastern Yukon
Very western tip of Nunavut
Major Cities
Winnipeg
Regina
Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray
Waterways
Red River, Mackenzie River, Saskatchewan River
Great Slave Lake, Great Bear Lake
Lake Winnipegosis, Lake Winnipeg, Lake Athabasca
Industries
Natural
Resources
Impact of
Resources on
Industries
Important
Historical Facts
Life of People in
the Region
Mining
Oil/gas field industries: Oil pumps – national symbol
Farming/farm-related industry
Larger centres may process natural resources
Water – used for trade routes, travel
Fertile soil – farming field grains, hay, pasture
Mineral and Oil deposits (oil, coal, natural gas – Canada’s largest source)
Potash/Salt – used in fertilizers, soaps, detergents
Deep, rich soil and flat, bare land = good for growing crops
Makes the prairies known as the “breadbasket” of Canada
South = known for ranches – drier season, less fertile soil, too cold/too hot
Communities today have roots in fur trading posts, forts
Others were founded as supply stops, places on the railway lines, near mines/oil
fields
French communities began by the following of herd animals
Fewer people farming now due to technology
Small family farms hard to compete with large operations due to costs of new
efficient machinery
Grain elevators – symbols of the prairies: built along the railway, weighed grain and
loaded onto train cars to be send to sea port
Urbanization – people moving into larger centres
Immigration – movement into a country, lots of space, cheaper homes, etc.
Climate
Environmental
Concerns
Challenges of
the Region
Other
Important Facts
of the Region
Wildlife
Unique/Notable
in the Area
Varies in several regions
Northern – colder with less precipitation
Southern – warmer, longer growing season
Can be extremely hot (+30 C – 40 C) or cold (-30 C – -40 C)
Far south: like a desert (Medicine Hat – one of the driest places in Canada)
Over processing of soils
Drought – impacts industry greatly
Protecting land and animal habitats
Is one of the most changed natural environments
Droughts common – dry times with little precipitation, crops do not grow, affects
forests
Irrigation used to help water crops
Climate – growth of certain crops is difficult, varying precipitation amounts, sparse
population, large spaces between communities
Areas around rivers prone to annual flooding (ex. Red River)
Rivers themselves used as shipping lanes in summer, ice roads in winter (ex.
Mackenzie River)
Many Francophone communities: development is encouraged, came by following
fur trade, still exist today
Moose, deer, elk, birds, mammals – many kinds since migration routes often move
through the plains, or migrating herds move through the region