The influence of geography on Canadian Identity Canadian Identity, Ch. 2 M. Bridgeo

The formation of the earth The earth is formed by a variety of rocks and rock forms. Canada has some of the oldest rocks in the world dating as far back as 4 billion years…pretty cool . Scientists believe the earth was formed in layers…What you see here is a picture of those layers, similar to the one found on page 21 of your textbook…  Locate this image in your textbook. Make a drawing and include the names of each of the layers as well as what they are made of (solids, liquids, gases). http://www.astrosurf.com/yantar/images/coupe_terre.jpg M. Bridgeo

The earth’s crust and its movement Scientist believe that all of the seven continents were once one supercontinent called Pangea. Pangea began to divide over 100 million years ago, and the continents are actually still moving today…again, pretty cool stuff  A German scientist developed a theory called Continental Drift Theory, stating that the crust is not continuous. The crust of the earth is divided into plates known as tectonic plates When one of these tectonic plates slides under another tectonic plates, it creates a subduction zone where we find much volcanic action and many earthquakes (see lighted areas on the pic to the right) http://nte-serveur.univ-lyon1.fr/nte/geosciences/geodyn_int/tectonique1/expansion/images/ouv_pangee.jpg http://www.chez.com/bhernand/tectonique3.gif M. Bridgeo

The physical geography of Canada « The physical geography of Canada plays an important role in our sense of Canadian Identity. » For example, the Inuit of the northern part of Canada use snow for many things; their houses, they depend on the snow and ice for travel as well as subsistence (food gathering). Many of their sports and activities are also centered around the cold climate and the northern climate in which they reside. Their ‘identity’ is therefore influenced by where they live and the geography of their region. Question: How does the geography of your region influence your Canadian Identity? http://www.astrosurf.com/luxorion/Bio/inuits-phoque.jpg http://www.csmm.qc.ca/sitsat/histoire/images/inuits.jpg M. Bridgeo

Canada’s Landform regions The eight landform regions of Canada are divided based on certain characteristics: The age of the rock The type of rock The relief of the land The slope of the land Cordilleran region Interior Plains Canadian Shield Hudson Bay Lowlands St. Lawrence Lowlands 6. Appalachian region 7. Arctic Lowlands 8. Innuitian mountains 8 7 1 3 2 4 6 5 M. Bridgeo

Climatic regions of Canada In 1920 a German, Wladimir Koppen, developed a classification system for climats around the world. There are five climatic regions : Using your texbook (p. 36-37), locate this information and make a climatic map of Canada now. M. Bridgeo

Some interesting facts about Canada’s geography… Did you know that… the only physiographic regions in Canada that have mountains are the Corillera and the Appalachian regions? the mountains in the Cordillera region are found in both BC and AB? the name we give to the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the ‘Prairie provinces’? Canada has three Maritime provinces (NB, NS & PE) but four Atlantic provinces (NB, NS, PE & NF) ? the Canadian Shield is the largest of the eight regions of Canada and take up 70% of the area of Canada ? the largest island in Canada is Baffin Island ? the Indian Ocean is the only one of the four oceans of the world that does not come into contact with Canada’s shoreline?