Maps and Landform Regions of Canada

• Maps are representations of geographic areas

Types of Maps

• Physical maps showcase natural features such as mountains, rivers, and forests
• Political maps delineate boundaries, countries, and cities
• Topographic maps provide detailed information on elevations, roads, and landmarks
• Thematic maps focus on specific topics like population or climate
• Climate maps illustrate patterns of temperature and precipitation

Landform Regions of Canada

• Canada is composed of seven major landform regions

Cross Section of Canada

• The Western Cordillera is a mountainous region located along the western edge of Canada
• The Interior Plains are flat and fertile, containing abundant oil and gas resources
• The Canadian Shield is an ancient, rocky area covering approximately half of Canada
• The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands are known for fertile land, agriculture, and major urban areas
• The Appalachian Mountains consist of an old, eroded mountain range in eastern Canada
• The Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands are flat and swampy, with a sparse population
• The Innuitian Mountains rest in the Arctic region, and are isolated and cold

Types of Rock

Igneous Rock

• Igneous rock exhibits a hard, crystalline appearance
• Igneous rock forms from cooled lava or magma
• Igneous rock is used in construction (granite) and jewelry (diamonds)

Sedimentary Rock

• Sedimentary rock is layered, soft, and may contain fossils
• Sedimentary rocks form through the compaction of sediment layers
• Sedimentary rocks are used for cement (limestone) and energy (coal, oil)

Metamorphic Rock

• Metamorphic rock has a grainy, foliated appearance
• Metamorphic rocks are created by heat and pressure
• Metamorphic rocks are used as building materials (marble) and in artistic applications (slate)

Characteristics of Each Region

• The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands contain fertile farmland
• The Interior Plains (Alberta) possess oil and natural gas, including oil sands in Northern Alberta
• The Canadian Shield contains metallic minerals, notably nickel, gold, and copper
• The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands have the highest population density

Rocks and Soil

• The rock cycle is a process where igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks transform based on heat, pressure, and weathering

Soil Profile

• Soil profiles consist of distinct layers (O, A, B, C horizons)
• The O horizon is composed of organic matter
• The A horizon is the topsoil, which is the most fertile layer
• The B horizon is the subsoil containing clay and minerals
• The C horizon consists of parent rock or bedrock
• Calcification is the process of mineral accumulation in dry regions, such as the Interior Plains
• Leaching is the removal of minerals by water, commonly found in wet, tropical regions

Forces that Build

• The theory of Continental Drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggests that continents were once joined in a supercontinent called Pangea and have since drifted apart
• Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move and cause geological activity
• Divergent faults occur where plates move apart, such as mid-ocean ridges
• Convergent faults arise where plates move together, resulting in mountain ranges
• Transform faults happen when plates slide past each other, exemplified by the San Andreas Fault
• Folding involves the bending of the Earth's crust, as seen in the Appalachian Mountains

Locations of Major Boundaries That Affect Canada

• The Ring of Fire, a volcanic zone around the Pacific Ocean, affects Canada’s west coast (Vancouver Island)
• Megathrust subduction zones cause large earthquakes, particularly in British Columbia
• Transform faults, like the San Andreas Fault, affect western Canada

Earthquakes & Volcanoes

• Hot spots are locations of intense volcanic activity not linked to plate boundaries, such as Hawaii
• Megathrust earthquakes are major seismic events caused by subduction zones, especially on the west coast of Canada
• Earthquakes mainly occur along the west coast, Quebec, and parts of Ontario

Forces that Reduce

• Weathering is the breakdown of rocks due to weather (chemical, physical, biological)
• Erosion is the movement of weathered material by wind, water, and ice
• Glaciation involves ice sheets and glaciers shaping the landscape

Glaciers

• The zone of accumulation is the area where snow and ice accumulate
• The zone of ablation is the area where ice and snow melt or sublimate

Great Lakes Formation

• The Great Lakes formed by glaciation during the last Ice Age
• Glaciers carved out deep depressions which later filled with water

Geologic History of the Earth

• The Precambrian Era (4.6 billion - 540 million years ago) saw the first life forms and the formation of continents
• The Paleozoic Era (540 - 252 million years ago) had an explosion of life (fossils) and the creation of coal deposits
• The Mesozoic Era (252 - 66 million years ago) was the age of dinosaurs and the break-up of Pangea
• The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago - present) features the dominance of mammals and birds, the last Ice Age, and the rise of modern humans

Main Biological and Geological Events During Each Era

• The Precambrian Era involved Earth's formation and simple life forms (bacteria)
• The Paleozoic Era had an explosion of marine life, along with the first plants and animals on land
• The Mesozoic Era featured dinosaurs and the formation of modern continents
• The Cenozoic Era saw the rise of mammals, glaciers, and human evolution

Landform Regions of Canada (Details)

• The Western Cordillera consists of young, jagged mountains and volcanoes
• The Interior Plains feature flat, fertile farmland and rich mineral deposits
• The Canadian Shield has old rock, rich mineral resources, and thin soil
• The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands include fertile land and major population centers
• The Appalachian Mountains are composed of eroded mountains and old rocks
• The Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands are wet, boggy, and sparsely populated
• The Innuitian Mountains are remote, Arctic, and have limited resources