SS10 – Horizons Chpt 3 (2)
- Physical Regions of Western Canada
Physical Regions Western Canada
Directions: Read pages 99-103 in your text Horizons: Canada Moves West
1. On a separate piece of paper, provide definitions for the following terms;
geological
having to do with geology, the study of the history of the Earth as found in
rocks
topography the shape of the land
igneous rock rock that has been formed by the solidification of molten material
metamorphic rock rock changed from its original form into another form through heat
and pressure
sedimentary rock rock made up os sediment laid down in layers which have grown
together
fossil fuel
a natural fuel formed by geological forces from the residue of living
organisms
plate
a slab of the Earth’s crust. Plates are underneath all the continents and
oceans. They regularlymove away from , and collide with, each other.
Tectonics
the study of forces within the Earth that form its surface features, such as
mountain ranges and ocean basins
2. On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using COMPLETE
SENTENCES;
a.
Give a brief description of the 3 geographic regions of Western Canada. (2 mks
for identification of the 3 regions and quality of description)
1. The Canadian Shield – hard rigid blocks , once a volcanic range, weathered and
eroded into a landscape of exposed rock and lakes. Igneous rock changed by heat
and pressure into metamorphic rock. The Canadian Shield is rich in minerals…copper,
gold, lead, nickel. Unsuitable for agriculture and large-scale settlement.
2. The Interior Plains – formed as eroded materials from the Canadian Shield
deposited in layers at its edges. Sedimentary rock, make millions of years ago when
it was covered by water. Lots of fossil fuels.
3. The Western Mountains – parallel mountain ranges separated by plateaus and
valleys. Formed by plate collisions. Erosion has formed fertile valleys.
b. What was the Canadian Shield originally made up of? How and what did it
change into? ( 2 mks for quality of response)
-Canadian shield was originally made up of Igneous Rock
-changed by heat and pressure into metamorphic rock.
c.
How did the Interior Plains come to have such large deposits of fossil fuels? (2
mks for quality of response and inclusion of details)
-the area was under a vast ocean. Animal were compressed between the sedimentary layers
of the ocean
d. How were the Western Mountains and valleys formed? (2 mks for description
and details)
-Plate tectonics, movement of the Juan de Fuca plate into the North American plate caused
mountains to rise.
-Valleys were formed by the folding action and then erosion carved them out further.
3. Color and label the blank map found opposite. Use the map found on page
101 of your text as a reference. You will receive 5 marks for proper
labeling and 5 marks for neatness and quality of work, for a total of 10
marks.
Total: ____/ 26