1. Our Neighbor to the North
Canada’s
Physical
Geography
©2011 Clairmont Press

2. Locating Physical Features of Canada
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Hudson Bay
St. Lawrence River
Great Lakes
Canadian Shield
Rocky Mountains
Link:

3. Sunset on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Coastline
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean borders Canada’s eastern coastline.
The Atlantic plays a huge role in Canada’s economic production because it is connected to the Great Lakes region by the St. Lawrence River. This region is where most of Canada’s industries are located.
The Atlantic has played a significant role in Canada’s history as well. The Vikings, French, and English settlers traveled across the Atlantic to explore and colonize the region.
Sunset on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Coastline
Image by Aconcagua on Wikimedia Commons

4. Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean borders western Canada.
The Pacific is very significant in fishing and shipping industries, especially from the west coast province of British Columbia and the city of Vancouver.
The Pacific Ocean’s current brings tremendous moisture to the Coastal Mountain region.
This creates dense rainforests of evergreen trees along the Pacific Coast.
Many Asian migrants travelled across the Pacific to work in the boom towns of Canada’s western frontier.
A view of the Pacific coastline from an
Island near Vancouver, British Columbia.

5. Hudson Bay Named for the famous English explorer Henry Hudson.
Hudson Bay is a large inlet of water that is easily visible on a map of Canada.
The bay borders the unique landform called the Canadian Shield to the South and the Arctic Ocean to the North.
Hudson Bay was the center of growth for the large ice sheet that cut out most of Canada’s shield region.
Link: Hudson Bay Map
Hudson Bay, Nunavut, Canada
Photo: Public Domain

6. St. Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River flows inland from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Ocean.
The St. Lawrence flows over Niagara Falls.
The St. Lawrence Seaway was created to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.
The St. Lawrence is now a major trade point because of the importance of the Great Lakes industrial sector in both Canada and the United States.
St. Lawrence River in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Photo: Wikimedia Commons – Datch78
Link: St. Lawrence River map

7. Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a combination of lakes shared by both Canada and the United States.
Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario
The Great Lakes are deep enough and large enough to have major container ships come from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Great Lakes are large enough to greatly affect the northeastern and central United States’ climate.
Looking across Lake Michigan to the Chicago skyline
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Link: Photo of Lake Michigan in Chicago

8. Canadian Shield
This rough and rugged “shield” is home to Canada’s most valuable mineral resources.
The shield area was scraped by receding glaciers that covered the region during the last Ice Age.
The Canadian Shield proved to be a tough obstacle during the building of railways connecting Eastern Canada and the Pacific West.
The Shield is unique to Canada and is the source of much controversy between mining companies and environmentally conscious Canadians.
Canadian shield area, Ontario, Canada
Photo: Wikimedia Commons – P199
Link: North America Map with Canadian Shield

9. Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains stretch from New Mexico all the way to Alaska. The U.S. shares the Rocky Mountains with Canada.
The Rocky Mountains dominate the western landscape of Canada and the United States.
Known for their rugged appearance and difficulty crossing, the Rocky Mountains served as a barrier between Central Canada and Western Canada for centuries.
The Rocky Mountains were home to a famous Gold Rush, the subject of Jack London’s White Fang.
Canadian Rocky Mountains
Photo: Harvey Barrison