Landforms of the Wondrous Region of Quebec

Canadian Shield The Canadian Shield takes up the majority of Canada It also forms more than 90% of Quebec It is the oldest geological part of Canada

Canadian Shield (cont.) Igneous and metamorphic rock form most of the Shield Minerals with similar densities such as nickel and copper are found together in the Shield because as the minerals cooled slowly, they separated into layers and floated to the same levels.

Canadian Shield (cont.) The process that sorts the minerals into their densities makes mining worth while because they are all grouped together Therefore, many mining companies are attracted to the Canadian Shield because of the abundance of metallic materials.

Canadian Shield (cont.) The mineral ores are smelted to get rid of unwanted materials After the metals are extracted they are sold and shipped around the world.

Canadian Shield (cont.) Some things are meant for one thing, and not for others, just as the Shield is good for mining but definitely not for farming. This is because as glaciation occurred the chunks of ice scraped away large amounts of soil, as well as clay and rock. So today, the shield is only covered by a thin layer of soil.

Canadian Shield (cont.) But glaciation did have a good effect on the land…it’s now an extremely scenic region. This is due to the ice gouging depressions in the bedrock, making thousands of lakes. The glaciers then deposited clay, gravel, sand and rock and created dams, creating the intricate patterns of rivers and streams that dance across the Shield.

Canadian Shield (cont.) The many rivers have made the Canadian Shield ideal for many hydro-electric power plants. The energy is then distributed across Canada.

The St. Lawrence Lowlands The bedrock of these lowlands were from eroded from the Canadian Shield. As the rock particles collected the pressure from the top layers formed them into sedimentary rocks.

The St. Lawrence Lowlands (cont.) The St. Lawrence Lowlands take up the rest of Quebec that the Shield does not. 50% of Canada’s population lives in this region. The St. Lawrence Lowlands region is the base of 70% of the country’s manufacturing industries. This region is only 14% of Canada’s area.

The St. Lawrence Lowlands (cont.) The St. Lawrence Lowlands region was formed by faulting. The faulting created a rift valley, which is the region.

The St. Lawrence Lowlands (cont.) This is the most southerly region of Canada It is good for growing things because it has a warm climate (by Canadian standards) and excellent soils.

In conclusion… Quebec contains a vast variety of characteristics when it comes to landforms. Thanks to all these landforms Quebec has become one of Canada’s most, if not THE most, industrial and urban provinces.