Landforms

Review- Rocks There are 4 different types of rock on/in the earth Magma Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic

Magma Formed in the mantle Molten rock

Igneous Rock

Sedimentary Rock Formed by forces of erosion Broken rock is buried or under water Intense weight compresses the sediment into the rock

Metamorphic Rock - Created through great heat and pressure under the Earth’s surface

WHAT CAN CHANGE THE FACE OF A ROCK?

Erosion Erosion is one of the main forces that can destroy the landscape of an area o There are 3 main forces that can physically break down rock  Wind  Water  Ice

Wind Blows small pieces of rock or dirt around These pieces can hit other rock, further eroding it

Water Various forms of water break down the landscape Rain Water falling Waves

Ice When water freezes and turns into ice, it expands almost 10%  Goes through the “ freeze/thaw ” cycle

Over millions of years various types of rock have formed; creating 7 distinct landform regions within Canada

Canada’s Landform Regions

The Canadian Shield Size: covers almost ½ of Canada How did it form? -Formed by volcanic eruptions over 3 billion years ago - erosion and glaciers caused mountains to flatten and lose most of its soil What does it look like? -Large, smooth rock formations, thousands of lakes and swamps Main Type of Rock: Igneous

The Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowlands Size: smallest region How did it form? -Sediments from the eroded Canadian Shield built up in ancient seas and formed new land What does it look like? - Low, fairly flat with some hills - Covered with a rich layer of soil Rock type: majority is Sedimentary

The Appalachians Size: majority of Eastern Canada How did it form? - Plate movement caused Sedimentary Rock on ocean floor to fold upwards to form mountains -Erosion lowered mountains and flattened some areas What does it look like? - Mountainous in some areas with some flatter plains (rock) Rock Type: mostly Sedimentary

Interior Plains Size: Covers large area in the interior of Canada How did it form? - sediments settled at the bottom of inland seas -When sea disappeared, it left a very flat area with thick, nutrient rich soil What does it look like? - Very flat plains Type of Rock: Sedimentary

Western Cordillera What does it look like? -Sets of tall mountains with a flat plateaus in between Rock Type: all 3 types- igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic Size: entire West Coast How did it form? 3 areas - Rocky Mountains- plate movements folded the earth -Coast Mountains- Volcanic eruptions -Interior Plateau- formed from lava that flowed from the volcanoes

Hudson Bay and Arctic Lowlands Size- large section of Northern Canada (territories) How did it form? -Sedimentary rock left from erosion and glacier scraping What does it look like? - Bare rock with stony areas Type of Rock: Sedimentary

Innuitions Size: Northern Canada, most of Nunavut’s northern islands How did it form? - Folded sedimentary rock from the ocean floor What does it look like? -ice and snow covered mountains Rock Type: Sedimentary