Grade 9 Geography of Canada - Unit 3 Lesson 5 Canada s Landform Regions What is a Landform A landform is any physical feature of the Earth s surface having a characteristic, recognizable shape and produced by natural causes. Landforms include major features (e.g., continents, ocean basins, plains, plateaus, mountain ranges) and minor features (e.g., hills, valleys, slopes, drumlins, dunes). Collectively, the landforms of Earth constitute the entire surface configuration of the planet. Canada has three distinct landform regions: (1) Canadian Shield, (2) highlands and (3) lowlands. Canadian Shield The Canadian Shield also called the Precambrian Shield -- is Canada s largest and oldest landform. It is a deep, joined bedrock region typically covered by a very thin layer of soil. The thin soil is due to glaciation and scraped off much of the soil layer. The Canadian Shield covers almost 8 million square kilometres of North American representing more than 50 percent of Canada. It covers much of Labrador, most of Quebec north of the St. Lawrence River, east and north Ontario, the central/northern portions of Manitoba excluding the area around Hudson Bay, much of northern Saskatchewan, a small portion of northeastern Alberta, and mainland Northwest Territories and Nunavut. How old is this region? The rocks do NOT contain deposits of fossils fuels such as coal, oil or gas. The life forms that produced these fuels did not exist at the time the Canadian Shield was formed. The rocks are over 570 million years old. Drainage is very poor. The Canadian Shield is covered by boreal forests in the south and tundra in the north. Lowlands Three lowland areas surround the Canadian Shield: (1) Interior Plains, (2) Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands and (3) the Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands. Interior Plains The Interior Plains of Canada are part of the Great Plains of North America. They are the eroded sediments from the Canadian Shield and the Rocky Mountains. Each layer of sediments was compressed under layers of new
sediment. These layers are several thousand metres thick and took millions of years to form. The compressed layers are much of the oil and gas in Alberta and Saskatchewan is found. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands This is a small landform. The region is located in the southern parts of Quebec and Ontario bordering the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Lowland developed from glacial deposits off the Canadian Shield. The St. Lawrence Lowland is a rift valley formed by faulting. More people live in this region than in all the rest of Canada. Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands The Hudson Bay Lowland is a very flat, low area covered by swampy forest. The characteristic vegetation is muskeg. The Arctic Lowland is a series of islands in Canada's far north. The ground remains frozen most of the year. The sedimentary rock contains lignite (a form of coal), oil and natural gas deposits. Highlands Canada has three highland areas that lie outside the lowlands. The three mountainous areas are (1) Appalachian Mountains, (2) Innuitian Mountains and (3) Western Cordillera. Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains are found along Canada s Atlantic coast occurring throughout the Maritimes, the Gaspé Peninsula and Newfoundland. The region consists of sedimentary rocks that were uplifted when North America collided with Europe and North Africa during the formation of the Pangaea. The rocks are rich in non-metallic metals such as coal. The once tall, jagged mountains have, over millions of years, been eroded to rolling mountains and hills. During the last Ice Age, deep water inlets were formed creating long bays. Innuitian Mountains These mountains occur in Canada s far north. These mountains are largely unexplored and the population is sparse due to the severe climate in the region. Some peaks are over 2,500 m in height suggesting the area is younger geologically than the Appalachian Mountains. The region is mostly sedimentary rock.
Western Cordillera The region flanks the Pacific coast of Canada. It comprises a series of mountain belts separated by plateaus and valleys. The total region is about 680 km wide. These mountains were formed when the Pacific tectonic plate forced its way under the North American tectonic plate. This collision caused folds and faults to occur. Along with the volcanic activity, the Western Cordillera Mountains were formed. The Western Cordillera consists of three mountains ranges that run north and south: (1) Eastern Mountains consisting of the Rocky and the Columbia Mountains, (2) the Interior Plateau which includes the Okanagan Valley and (3) the Coast Mountains that include the Coast Range. The great heights (reaching over 3,000 m) and angularity of the peaks suggest the Western Cordillera is much younger geologically than the Appalachians. NOTE: Canada has seven landform regions. This map identifies eight, but the Arctic Lowlands and Hudson Bay Lowlands can be combined as one region: the Arctic and Hudson Bay Lowlands.
Grade 9 Geography of Canada - Unit 3 Lesson 5 Canada s Landform Regions Instructions: Using Chapter 11 in your textbook Making Connections, identify the landform region using the clues, questions and riddles. 1. Differential erosion has created three different levels of elevation in this landform region. 2. Though I try, I find digging hard and staying warm is quite a feat in many parts of this landform region. 3. Every other landform region relied on me. 4. These mountainous landform region was formed by uplifting and folding of rocks at the end of the Paleozoic era 5. I am the middle sibling of Canada s other mountain landform regions 6. People place me at the heart of Canada 7. How can 50% of you get into the 14% that is me? 8. When you think of Sudbury, you think of this landform region. 9. Sediments from the Canadian Shield and the Rocky Mountains were deposited in this landform region many millions of years ago.
Canada s Landform Regions 2 10. The Rocky Mountains make up only one part of me. 11. This landform region is along the southwestern shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay. 12. Glacial and river deposition have made parts of this elevated landform region excellent farmland 13. Part of this landform region is a rift valley formed by faulting. 14. Drowned coastlines were formed in this landform region by the sheer weight of the glaciers during the last Ice Age. 15. I am very sturdy but not too young, and I once stood tall but time was worn me down. 16. I am a very active landform region preferring to shake, rattle and roll. 17. If you walk on me, you will usually see tracks. 18. I was made greater by the gouging of glaciers 19. Part of this landform region is a series of islands.
Canada s Landform Regions 3 20. Because of the thick layers of rich and fertile soils developed from sediment deposits, this region is known as Canada s Breadbasket 21. My rocks may look like Scotland, but I am not. 22. Reach inside me and you may find what others are fighting for. 23. This region is Canada s Storehouse of Metallic Minerals 24. This region was formed by the collision of the North American and Pacific plates 25. The sedimentary rocks in this harsh landform region contain rich deposits of lignite, oil and natural gas. 26. To your surprise, I roll a bit. 27. The Niagara Escarpment is found in this landform region 28. This region is Canada s oldest highland landform region 29. Stand on my edge and you may slip in, but a cat would enjoy my shape.
Canada s Landform Regions 4 30. This mountain landform region is mostly composed of sedimentary rock. 31. Glaciers eroded the coastal valleys in this landform region to create fiords. 32. The vegetation in this low-lying landform region must like water. 33. This landform region is part of the Great Plains of North America 34. The plateaus in this landform region contain metallic minerals such as iron and zinc. CONGRATULATIONS You have successfully got to the final question well done. Your knowledge of Canada s landform regions is no longer frozen in ice. For the final question, you must use all the clues and answers you have gathered to date. FINAL QUESTION (for all the rocks) - Something is wrong. I just do not add up to the other landform regions.
Landform Regions of Canada ANSWERS 1. Differential erosion has created three different levels of elevation in this landform region. 2. Though I try, I find digging hard and staying warm is quite a feat in many parts of this landform region. HUDSON BAY ARCTIC LOWLANDS 3. Every other landform region relied on me. CANADIAN SHIELD 4. These mountainous landform region was formed by uplifting and folding of rocks at the end of the Paleozoic era APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS 5. I am the middle sibling of Canada s other mountain landform regions INNUITIAN MOUNTAINS 6. People place me at the heart of Canada GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS 7. How can 50% of you get into the 14% that is me? GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS 8. When you think of Sudbury, you think of this landform region. CANADIAN SHIELD 9. Sediments from the Canadian Shield and the Rocky Mountains were deposited in this landform region many millions of years ago.
Landforms Answers 2 10. The Rocky Mountains make up only one part of me. WESTERN CORDILLERA 11. This landform region is along the southwestern shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay. HUDSON BAY ARCTIC LOWLANDS 12. Glacial and river deposition have made parts of this elevated landform region excellent farmland WESTERN CORDILLERA 13. Part of this landform region is a rift valley formed by faulting. GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS 14. Drowned coastlines were formed in this landform region by the sheer weight of the glaciers during the last Ice Age. APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS 15. I am very sturdy but not too young, and I once stood tall but time was worn me down. CANADIAN SHIELD 16. I am a very active landform region preferring to shake, rattle and roll. WESTERN CORDILLERA 17. If you walk on me, you will usually see tracks. INNUITIAN MOUNTAINS 18. I was made greater by the gouging of glaciers GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS 19. Part of this landform region is a series of islands. HUDSON BAY ARCTIC LOWLANDS
Landforms Answers 3 20. Because of the thick layers of rich and fertile soils developed from sediment deposits, this region is known as Canada s Breadbasket 21. My rocks may look like Scotland, but I am not. APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS 22. Reach inside me and you may find what others are fighting for. 23. This region is Canada s Storehouse of Metallic Minerals CANADIAN SHIELD 24. This region was formed by the collision of the North American and Pacific plates WESTERN CORDILLERA 25. The sedimentary rocks in this harsh landform region contain rich deposits of lignite, oil and natural gas. HUDSON BAY ARCTIC LOWLANDS 26. To your surprise, I roll a bit. 27. The Niagara Escarpment is found in this landform region GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS 28. This region is Canada s oldest highland landform region APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS
Landforms Answers 4 29. Stand on my edge and you may slip in, but a cat would enjoy my shape. CANADIAN SHIELD 30. This mountain landform region is mostly composed of sedimentary rock. INNUITIAN MOUNTAINS 31. Glaciers eroded the coastal valleys in this landform region to create fiords. WESTERN CORDILLERA 32. The vegetation in this low-lying landform region must like water. HUDSON BAY ARCTIC LOWLANDS 33. This landform region is part of the Great Plains of North America 34. The plateaus in this landform region contain metallic minerals such as iron and zinc. APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS For the final question, you must use all the clues and answers you have gathered to date. FINAL QUESTION (for all the rocks) - Something is wrong. I just do not add up to the other landform regions. INNUITIAN MOUNTAINS