Canadian Physical Regions
Appalachian:







An extension of the Appalachian mountains
Varied landscape of rolling hills, valleys, small mountains, highlands, and costal fjords
Why are the mountains in this region smaller?
Sedimentary rocks were deposited here as a result of glacial retreat. Rock layers covered
vegetation and over time created large coal deposits
Igneous rock is present as a result of ancient volcanic activity.
Contains deposits of coal and minerals, rich fishing resources, vast forests, and farmland,
which encouraged settlement along the coast and river valleys
Because of natural harbours this region has been linked to trade and shipping for
hundreds of years
Canadian Shield:









Takes up nearly half of Canada’s land surface.
Was once a volcanic mountain range
Shield regions are the oldest land formations in the world
Weather and glacier activity have eroded down the landscape to flat, bare rock, lakes, and
wetlands
Travel is difficult, and the thin soil makes it unsuitable for agriculture
Most areas are thinly populated
Most of the rock in this region has been changed to metamorphic rock by heat and
pressure – this also created many valuable minerals, like copper, gold, lead, diamonds,
platinum, and nickel
One of the world’s richest areas for mining
Towns set up are mainly isolated and focused on mining
Arctic Region:





Characterized by plains, lowlands, and mountains
Largest mountain range is the Innuitian Mountains, which were formed when pressure
pushed up the sedimentary rock in that area.
Due to the harsh climate and remote location there has been little mineral exploration
The lowlands are composed of sedimentary rock and contains oil and natural gas deposits
Increased travel in this region as well as oil and gas transportation has raised
environmental concerns among the Inuit, who rely on the regions wildlife for food and
clothing
St. Lawrence Lowlands



Found between the Great Lakes, and extend along the St. Lawrence R. to Quebec City
Formed mainly by retreating ice sheets that covered Canada during the Ice Age
Glaciers pushed soil into the lowlands from the shield region





Fertile areas of sandy soil were left behind and the melt water drained into the basins that
are today the Great Lakes
This makes this region ideal for agriculture – starting with the Huron First Nations and
later by Europeans
Orchards of apples, pears, peaches, and cherries are found in this region
Home to about half of Canada’s population
Access by river has made transportation of goods and materials in an out of Canada, a
thriving industry
Interior Plains:






Stretched from the Shield to the Cordillera
Formed as soils carried by rivers from the Shield were deposited
Deposits formed sedimentary rock, creating mostly flat land, rolling hills and river
valleys
Large deposits of fossil feuls, oils and natural gas, as well as potash are found here as a
result of plant and animal remains being pressed between layers of sed. Rock
Grasslands dominate this region, and have made it ideal for cattle ranches and farming
Areas further north are covered by parkland and forest
Cordillera:






Made up of a number of parallel mountain ranges, separated by plateaus, trenches and
valleys
Contains dormant volcanoes, glaciers, and ice fields
Rocky and Coast mountains are the youngest landforms in Canada, formed when plate
collision caused the earth’s crust to buckle, pushing and folding volcanic rock into
mountains – plate tectonics
Rich in mineral deposits or copper, gold, and coal
Mining and forestry are the major industries in this region
Rich fertile soils in the Fraser River Valley is used for agriculture, industry, the river was
and is vital to transportation, especially before roads and railways were built