Chapter 2: Canada`s Physical Landscape

Chapter 2: Canada’s Physical Landscape
Name: _________________________
You will be able to:
 Demonstrate an understanding of the physical geography of Canada.
o outline the factors responsible for Canada’s varied topography and landforms
o identify and describe Canada’s major landform regions
o describe the global and regional factors that account for variations in Canada’s climate
regions
o identify and locate the major climate regions of Canada
Introduction:
Canada is the world’s second largest country in area. It borders three oceans and extends across six time
zones. Canada is not only geographically large –- it is also incredibly diverse. The size and variety of
Canada’s geographic landscape, and the response of the diverse peoples who have inhabited it, have
played a significant role in shaping Canadian identity(ies).
The physical processes which literally shaped, and continue to shape, present-day Canada are examined
in this chapter, and it builds on what you learned in gr. 7 Science. The resulting “stage” on which
Canada’s history has played out is explored through an examination of the diverse physiographic regions
of the country. The high mountains of British Columbia, the prairie fields of Saskatchewan, the frozen
tundra of Nunavut, and the craggy shores of Newfoundland and Labrador have all contributed to
shaping Canadian identity and identities.
Landforms

Describe the layers of the earth: Answer Question 1 on p. 21
1

Describe the process of Continental Drift:
o The Earth’s crust is not continuous; it is divided into a number of plates (sections) that
move because of slow-moving convection patterns in the mantle (plate tectonics). Over
many millions of years (see diagrams on p. 21) the super-continent of Pangaea began to
split apart, and is still moving apart today.

Describe how tectonic activity has impacted the Earth’s Crust, and in particular Canada’s crust:
Answer questions 1 and 2 page 22
2

How are mountains created, and how do they change over time?
o When continental plates collide, they can push up mountains. Where plates are moving
apart, volcanic action can cause the creation of undersea mountain chains, as found in
the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. When plates separate along a fault, the resulting forces can
either raise or lower blocks of the crust.
o Weathering, erosion, and deposition also help shape our landforms. Weathering and
erosion wear-down landforms, where deposition slowly builds up materials over time to
form new shapes. These processes take time; the older landform regions in Canada have
been affected much more by weathering and erosion than ones formed more recently.
Define:
Weathering:
Erosion:
Deposition:
 Identify Canada’s Eight Landform Regions:
o Use the sheets that follow to help summarize what you read about on pages 26 – 31
3
Label Canada’s Landform Regions on the map below.
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Climate and Weather
o
o
Climate is how we describe patterns of weather conditions over the long-term and that
there are many factors that affect the climate of a region. There is a strong relationship
between climate and Canadian identity; think about your housing, the clothes you wear,
and what you do for fun.
The global factors that affect climate include latitude, air masses and winds, ocean
currents, clouds and precipitation. Describe their affect (pp. 33-36):
o
The regional factors include altitude, bodies of water, and mountain barriers. Show
some examples how these factors make a difference in regions across Canada:
o
Canada can be split into various climate regions: dry, warm/moist, temperate
continental, and polar climates (see the map on page 39). Note the characteristics of
each climate zone with regard to temperature, precipitation and relative location within
Canada (see page 38-39). Which climate zone do we belong to? Characterize our climate
in terms of temperature and precipitation:
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o
Construct a climograph from the data included. Could you identify the region of Canada
it may belong to based on the data in the climograph? Construct a climograph (see p.
40)
o
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Landform Regions of Canada
Canadian
Shield
Provinces
Included
Age of Rock
Quebec, Ont,
Sask, Nunavut,
Manitoba, Lab,
NWT
4 billion years
ago
Appalachian NL, Nova Scotia,
Mountains PEI, New
Western
Cordillera
Brunswick,
Quebec
BC, Yukon, part of
Alberta
Innuitian
Mountains
Nunavut, NWT
Arctic
Lowlands
Nunavut, NWT
Interior
Plains
Alberta, Sask.,
Manitoba, NWT
Great Lakes- Ontario, Quebec,
St. Lawrence Labrador
Lowlands
Hudson Bay Ontario,
Lowlands Manitoba,
Quebec
Type of Rock
Igneous
Relief
Gradient
Process that shaped the area
Low relief
Low lying areas
with rolling hills
Largely shaped by volcanoes
and glacial movement
Mixture of
1000m or
igneous,
lower
metamorphic &
sedimentary
65 million years Mixture of all
3000m
ago
three but mostly
metamorphic
Rolling hills and
broad valleys
Steep young
mountains with
deep valleys
The North American and
Eurasian plates collided,
pushing land upward (folding).
Erosion over time
Folding and faulting of the
earth’s crust (movement of
plates)
Approx 250
million years
(younger than
Appalachians)
Approx 500
million years
ago
Mixture of all
2000m
three but mostly
metamorphic
Steep sided
valleys and
mountains
Folding and faulting of the
earth’s crust (movement of
plates)
Sedimentary
with igneous
underneath
Low
elevation
Rolling hills
Formed by sediments
deposited by glaciers
Approx 500
years ago
Mostly
sedimentary
Low
elevation
Steep slopes on
either side of
the plains
Formed by sediments
deposited by glaciers
10 000 years
ago they were
drained of
seawater
Approx 800
million
Mostly
sedimentary
Low
elevation
Rolling hills
Formed by sediments
deposited by glaciers
Sedimentary
with igneous
underneath
Mainly flat
land
Rolling hills
Formed by sediments
deposited by glaciers
375 million
years ago
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Ch. 1 Map Skill: Place the abbreviation (letters) of the province on the map below:
Alberta AB
British Columbia BC
Manitoba MB
New Brunswick NB
Northwest Territories NT
Nova Scotia NS Nunavut NU
Ontario ON
Quebec QC Saskatchewan SK
Yukon YT
Newfoundland and Labrador NL
Prince Edward Island PE
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