Canada's Atlantic Region: Geography, Population & Economy

Atlantic Region - Political Boundaries

• Encompasses New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island (PEI), and parts of Quebec.
• Characterized by valleys with rich, fertile soil.
• Features banks off the coast that are conducive to good fishing.

Atlantic Region - Population and Cities

• Accounts for 10% of Canada's total population.
• Experiences the highest population density among all provinces despite the relatively small area.
• Densely populated, with residents mainly living in cities and working primarily in manufacturing and service industries.

Atlantic Region - Economy

• Historically reliant on cod fishing as a primary natural resource.
• Forestry is a key industry, focusing on pulp and paper production for export to Europe and the U.S.
• Agriculture includes vegetable and dairy farming.
• The Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia is known for apple production.
• PEI is noted for potato farming in its red soil.
• Mining yields lead, zinc, copper, and coal.
• Newfoundland benefits from offshore oil deposits.
• Tourism contributes significantly to the regional economy.

St. Lawrence River Region - Political Boundaries and Physical Region

• Includes two lowland areas of Ontario and Quebec.
• Separated by a thin arm of the Canadian Shield known as the Frontenac Axis, which crosses the lowlands near Kingston, Ontario.
• The Frontenac Axis runs north from Niagara Falls to Tobermory, Ontario.
• Characterized by rich soils, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence River.

Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Region - Population and Cities

• Originally inhabited by two First Nations: the Algonkians and the Iroquoians.
• The Six Nations, the largest Indian band in Canada, resides around the Grand River, Ontario.
• Includes Aboriginal people who live and work in relocated towns and cities.
• The French settled along the lower part of the St. Lawrence River.
• Predominantly urban, with most of the region's inhabitants living in cities.

St. Lawrence River - Economy

• Naturally suited to agriculture due to good soil, abundant water, and a long growing season.
• Agricultural products serve as a food supply for the local population, with some processed for sale.
• Faces loss of farmland due to potential industry expansion on valuable agricultural land.
• Produces a variety of manufactured goods, including iron, automobiles, and clothing.
• Benefits from extensive transportation links and a developed highway network, facilitating raw material transport.

The Shield Region - Political Boundaries

• Touches all of Canada's provinces except for the Atlantic provinces(New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, newfoundland, P.E.I, and parts of quebec)
• Underlined by hard, ancient Precambrian rock.
• U-shaped geographic formation.
• Rich in minerals such as lead, gold, copper, zinc, and uranium.
• Extensively affected by the Ice Age, leaving deposits of rock, soil, and gravel.

The Shield - Population and Cities

• Originally settled by the Algonkians and Inuit.
• Indigenous groups include the Cree, Ojibway, Naskapi, and Montagnais.
• Least densely populated region in Canada.
• Predominantly settled in rural areas.

The Shield - Economy

• Trees are processed into lumber and shipped overseas.
• Rich in metallic and nonmetallic minerals.
• Forestry and logging significantly impact the economy.
• Heavily dependent on the extraction of natural resources.
• Has limited manufacturing and agriculture, confined to small pockets of fertile areas.
• Hydroelectricity production is significant .

The Plains - Political and Physical

• Located between the Shield and the Cordillera regions.
• Part of a larger plain stretching from the Mexican border.
• Predominantly hilly terrain.

The Plains - Population

• Two-thirds of the population resides in towns and cities.
• Over 170 First Nation bands have claims against the government.

The Plains - Economy

• Farming and ranching are important.
• Wheat is a main cash crop.
• Ranching for beef production is significant.
• Large oil reserves were discovered after World War II, predominantly in Alberta.
• Deposits of potash and coal are important mineral resources.

The Cordillera Region - Political and Physical

• Located on the west coast.
• Includes most of British Columbia, Yukon, and parts of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
• Well-known for its mountainous terrain.

The Cordillera Region - Population and Cities

• Includes seven main indigenous groups.
• Home to the second-largest Aboriginal population in Canada.
• Approximately three-quarters of the population lives in cities and towns.
• Features a diverse cultural makeup.
• Experienced significant immigration starting in 1858.

The Cordillera Region - Economy

• Mining is a crucial sector, with metallic minerals being the most valuable.
• Non-metallic minerals are important for construction.
• Known for diverse rock types.
• Farming produces fruits and vegetables.
• Salmon fishing is a key industry.
• Forests of immense trees are a valuable resource.
• Faces conflicts over forest exploration.
• Problems include reliance on the sale of raw materials rather than manufacturing value-added products.

The North Region - Political Boundaries

• Located above the line of continuous permafrost.
• Borders the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay.
• Features plateaus, mountains, and lowlands.
• Precambrian rock, similar to that in the Shield, is found in the Arctic Islands.

The North Region - Population and Cities

• Early European settlements were driven by the fur trade
• Gold discoveries in the Yukon and subsequent mining activities brought settlements.

The North Region - Economy

• Trapping and fishing formed the basis of the economy for many years.
• Trade has increased over time.
• Significant mineral resources have been discovered.
• Metallic minerals, including zinc, iron ore, lead, and diamonds, are present.

Explore Canada's Atlantic Region, including its political boundaries, population distribution, and key industries. Learn about its fertile valleys, rich fishing banks, and the economic reliance on natural resources like cod fishing and forestry. Discover the agricultural contributions of Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley and PEI.