Discover Canada's Landform Regions

Landform Regions of Canada

• The Prairies region is characterized by flat land suited to farming and is where the majority of Canadian fossil fuels are found.
• The Canadian Shield region is described as having many lakes, lumpy irregular land, and rivers that are not straight.
• The Cordillera region is characterized by tall, young mountains, pointed peaks, and v-shaped valleys with green vegetation.
• The Canadian Shield region forms the core of the continent and is composed of a large area of Precambrian rock.

Mountain Formation

• Constructive forces can push up the land to create mountains/highlands through volcanic activity, folding, and uplift.
• Fold mountains are formed when crustal plates move together, forcing the land between to buckle and fold.
• Block mountains are created by parallel cracks in the crust, allowing the center portion of land to rise or fall, forming flat-topped mountains.

Weathering and Erosion

• Chemical weathering involves the disintegration of rock by changing its composition.
• Physical weathering involves the disintegration of rock without changing its composition.
• Volcanic activity is the force that allows magma to reach the surface and cool and harden to become volcanic mountains.
• Erosion is the process of wearing away and breaking down the surface.

Landform Features

• Lowlands are very low, near sea level, flat, and swampy.

Test your knowledge of Canada's diverse landform regions with this introductory quiz. Explore the country's unique physical features, including mountains, plateaus, plains, and more.