Download Geography 12: Regions

Let's look at the
fundamental geography
theme - regions and
identify the physical
regions of Canada.



are areas that have similar characteristics,
according to a set of chosen criteria. Regions
are the basic units of geographic study.
Regions can be based on criteria as diverse as
climate to natural vegetation to life
expectancy to language to available health
care to international trade.
In this lesson, you are going to review the
Physical Regions of Canada which you
learned in Social Studies 10.




Cordillera is a Spanish term for a parallel set of mountains.
The Cordillera is a Region in Western Canada that is covered
with a large chain of mountains that go up to 4200 meters
above sea level, they are called “The Rocky Mountains” and
a variety of trees like Douglas Firs, and Red Cedars.
The climate varies greatly from extremely wet, rainy areas to
near deserts, and winter wonderlands. Forestry is the heart of
the Cordilleras industry. Fishing is also a major artery for the
Cordilleras economy.
Mining used to be a main contributor.

The Plains region is in between the Cordillera
and the Great Canadian Shield. It is found in
the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British
Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and
Manitoba. Sometimes, people make the
mistake of calling the Plains the Prairie
Provinces or just the Prairies

There are 3 flat levels of elevation and each
level is lower as you move to the east. If you
can picture 3 steps on stairs that descend, then
you sort of get what it looks like. Furthermore,
found within these 3 levels of flat elevation ,
you may find hills, escarpments (cliffs), low
mountains, forests, wide river valleys and there
are even sand dunes!


The Canadian Shield is the largest of Canada's
6 physical regions
This area completely surrounds the Hudson's
Bay in the shape of a horseshoe. It includes
the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec,
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and
Newfoundland and Labrador (Labrador only).

It mainly is rock that
was once mountains
millions of years ago

Climate is linked to landforms in many ways.
The Great Lakes cause the hot humid weather
found here in the summer by providing the
moisture in the air (precipitation). The St.
Lawrence Lowlands is the closest region in
Canada to the equator, making the weather
mild. There can be 100cm of rain each year
from the humidity in the summer.

The area is located in all of the 4 maritime provinces (New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and
Newfoundland and Labrador) as well as, the majority of the
area known as the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, often
referred to as the " Thumb of Quebec". The coastal climate
varies throughout this region, but generally the further east
you go, the warmer it gets. These areas are higher than the
St. Lawrence, Great Lakes Lowlands (or region). The reason
is because this area was a mountain range that formed
millions and millions of years ago. Erosion and the
movement of glacial ice wore these mountains down until
what is left is an area full of rocks, many trees, rich soil,
many lakes and coastal inlets. All of these wonderful
resources add to the economy and development of the
Atlantic Region


The Northern Region is located in the Yukon, Northwest
Territories, Nunavut, Northern Quebec and the most extreme tip
of Labrador and Newfoundland. Sometimes, when people think of
Canada, they vision in their heads our northern region. In fact our
northern region is the entire landscape of Canada which is north
of the 60 N parallel (latitude). This area is very unique compared
to the rest of Canada.
First of all, the Northern Landscape is a combination (mix) of the
Cordillera, Plains and the Great Canadian Shield. Remember
when you are studying the North to include the main features
found in these 3 regions and apply them to this region.