Download The Atlantic or Appalachian Highlands Region

The Atlantic or Appalachian Highlands Region
 Water is truly plentiful in this region which includes the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, as well, as the Canadian coastal waters of the
Atlantic Ocean. Water always means tourism, as well, as
transportation such as shipping industry, and hydroelectricity.
 The fishing industry has a rich heritage in the maritime
provinces. Canadians have been fishing the Grand Banks since
John Cabot's discovery in 1497. Cod, halibut, herring ,
flounder, mackerel, lobster, scallops, sole, crab, shrimp and
mussels are just waiting for you to sample. Unfortunately,
since we've been over-fishing these areas since 1497, we've run
into some problems of endangered species. The cod fish were
nearly wiped out.
 The Rocks of the Appalachian Highlands provide minerals for
Canadians to mine. Iron, zinc, and gold are a few of the
minerals utilized and mined in the Atlantic Region.
 The trees of this regions are important to tourism/recreation
industry (hiking, camping) etc., as well as, they are used to
produce pulp and paper. Most of the pulp eventually becomes
our daily newspapers.
 Oil has been discovered under the ocean floor here. The
Hibernia oil field has helped boost the sagging economy of
Newfoundland and Labrador because many out of work
fishermen can go and work on the floating oil derricks found
out in the ocean.
Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Lowlands Region
 This region has the best source of water in Canada because of
the St. Lawrence River, Niagara Falls and the Great Lakes.
Glaciers retreating, formed the lakes and rivers long ago. As
the glaciers retreated, they dug huge holes that were filled by
water.
 Manufacturing is the St. Lawrence, Great Lakes Lowlands
biggest industry. Fifty percent of jobs in this region are related
to manufacturing. Manufacturing plants are located in the
golden horseshoe. Lots of things are produced here. People
living within this region tend to build manufacturing plants
close to the bodies of water, for hydro power (electricity);
close to where the minerals are found; close to people for more
workers; and on rock which can hold up buildings and heavy
machinery. This region provides all of these necessities for
successful manufacturing in Canada.
 Farming is another popular industry here. This region has the
2nd largest area in Canada used for farming because of it's rich
soil, flat land and the climate is good (long growing season that
is warm and humid). This is a very important region for
growing crops in Canada.
 The St. Lawrence lowlands mine iron-ore, zinc, coal, silver,
copper and lead. They retrieve the minerals by drilling into the
rocks and using machinery. Many jobs are directly and
indirectly linked to mining.
Canadian Shield Region
 The Canadian Shield is the largest of Canada's 6 physical
regions.
 It mainly is rock that was once mountains millions of years
ago. Through the process of erosion, water, ice, glaciers from
the Ice Age, and wind wore down this rock so that it became
flatter. Over those millions of years, rivers, rapids, lakes and
valleys have been carved out by the forces of nature.
 All these beautiful sources of water add to the tourism and
recreation (camping) industry but at the same time it made it
difficult to create a transportation system there. In the northern
areas of the Shield bush planes are still commonly used to get
around.
 When all of the erosion was finished, the rock was very close
to the surface. As a matter of fact there isn’t a lot of depth to
the soil. Trees like the fir, pine and spruce love it here but the
shallowness of the soil wouldn't work for plants that have a
deep root system. This is also an area where you couldn't
survive very well as a farmer.
Plains Region
 The Interior Plains landscape includes much more than just the
prairie grasslands. You'll find that this entire region is
generally flat in elevation. In fact 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 Plains truly rely upon water, for the region's climate is
generally dry. Water not only helps irrigate crops and livestock
but it is also a source of transportation for our products,
supplies, goods and services. In the past, these water routes
were also major fur trading routes. These waterways also act as
areas of recreation, tourism, as well, as resources like hydroelectricity for Canadians.
 It is important to discuss major industries found within this
landscape, the first being farming. Both the crops and livestock
produced in this area feed many Canadians, as well as, others
around the world. Moreover, the agricultural industry is also
linked with promoting the tourism industry. Many rodeos,
stampedes and agricultural shows are held throughout this
region for everyone to enjoy.
 Secondly the mining of fuel products like oil, natural gas, coal,
potash copper, zinc, gold and uranium is crucial. Lastly many
of the forest areas found in the Plains are harvested for the
lumber industry or else admired by tourists for the tourism
industry. The resources found in the Interior Plains are
transported across Canada to other regions.
Cordillera Region
 The climate of the Cordillera’s coast is mild, wet and rarely
has snow that stays. The interior of the Cordillera is usually
colder and dryer with larger amounts of snow. In the summer,
it is warmer and there is less rain.
 The landscape of the Cordillera has long chains of high rugged
mountains. This includes the Rocky Mountains and the Coastal
Mountains. Parts of this region are covered with forests.
 The natural resources of the Cordillera are forestry (this is the
biggest industry in the region), agriculture, mining (iron, lead,
zinc, silver, copper and nickel) and fisheries (the west coast is
famous for salmon).
 Most of the people in the Cordillera live in extreme south
lowlands [Vancouver] and southern plateau due to the warmer
climate.
Northern Region
 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.
 The unique tilt of our Earth's axis gives this region 6 months of
constant sunlight and then 6 months of continual darkness.
 Because of the unique landscape and climate conditions
(extremely cold in the winter months) this area of Canada has
the lowest human population in Canada. As in the Interior
Plains and the Cordillera the majority of the people will live
where the land is level and /or where there is a water source
nearby. As previously stated water is a source of food,
communication, recreation as well as transportation. Hunting,
trapping and fishing are also crucial to the Northern population
as well as other Canadians.
 Since the Cordillera and the Canadian Shield are also 2 regions
found in the North, remember these are rocks and we always
mine our rocks to produce useful minerals as well as oil and
gas which we use in our everyday life.