Geography Chapter 8 Canada
Explain the Prairie Provinces
- 1) Alberta (Edmonton) 2) Manitoba ( Winnipeg) 3) Saskatchewan (Regina) -between Rockies and Canadian Shield in southwestern Canada - associated with wheat -crop covered flatlands, lakes, rivers, badlands with sand and rock formations, sand dunes, semiarid plains -most live in cities established on main points along the railroad -Winnipeg- two rail lines were built to the west, each taking a different set of passes through the Rockies -Edmonton and Calgary- where each rail line headed into the mountains -Saskatoon and Regina- service centers - "grains and trains dominate life" -wheat is transported to ports on the Pacific, Great Lakes, and Hudson Bay -tourism (Rockies and scenery in Alberta) -oil and natural gas
Explain the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Provinces
- 1) Quebec (Montreal) 2) Ontario (Toronto) -heartland of Canada -three distinct landscapes 1) Canadian Shield (Most of Quebec and Ontario) - poor soil and cold climate with rich mineral deposits 2) Hudson Bay Lowlands (Between Canadian Shield and Hudson Bay) - flat, sparsely populated, swampy region 3) St. Lawrence Lowlands (Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River valley - rich soil and mild climate Ontario (Toronto) -most important aspect is waterways -St. Lawrence Seaways (connects the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence River) is the highway to the sea -Due to the different levels of elevation, locks have to be used -lock- an enclosed area on a canal that rises and lowers ships from one water level to another -rich soil and mineral resources (farming is big) -cities develop a lot of goods due to easy shipping -capital- Toronto (largest metropolitan area ) -banking and financial center - Ottawa, the capital of Canada , is located in Southeastern Ontario Quebec (Montreal) - largest province but not evenly distributed population -most people live around the St. Lawrence River, very few live on the Canadian shield - Canadian shield - an area exposed of bedrock which covers the northern four fifths of the province - Bedrock-solid rock covered by soil, gravel, and sand -forests, rivers, lakes, treeless tundra with lichens and mosses(northern) -Appalachians rise above the southeastern border -center of mining, forestry, and farming, and currently, service and manufacturing -Montreal- beautiful urban center - Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec
Explain the Atlantic Provinces
- 1)Newfoundland and Labrador (St. Johns) 2) Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown) 3) Nova Scotia (Halifax) 4) New Brunswick (Fredericton) - border the Atlantic ocean and the land forms the Appalacians -hills with deciduous forests and mountains, lakes and small ponds, once had glaciers -¨Maritimes¨ because of close ties to the sea Coast lines have bays and inlets for harbors (most people live along the coast) - smallest of Canada´s regions, but is important to settlement and development -Grand Banks was once the world´s richest fishing areas -overfishing caused depletion and there is not much anymore, other than crab and shrimp catching -forestry and farming are important (plains and fertile soil) -mild climate, long growing season -industries (oil) and tourism are also popular
Explain the conflict between the French and British cultures
- the majority of French speaking Canadians live in Quebec - When Canada began independent, laws were made to ensure the rights of French citizens and allow them to have their own language, laws, and culture - official languages - French and English -The Quebecois (French citizens) consider themselves the guardians of the French culture in Canada and feel discriminated against -to preserve the culture, many suggest separatism, to make Quebec an independent country -Quebec suffered when they made French the official language because they lost all non French businesses and residents -many wanted Quebec to secede (withdraw) but they insist on pushing for separatism instead
Explain Canada
-Canada has 10 provinces (political divisions), and three territories that can be divided into five regions - Northern half of North America -separated from the US because of 1) small population 2) structure of government
Explain Canada's links with the world
-Canada plays the role of a middle power in the global community, it is well suited for working with other nations -Canada has access to trade with Asian and European countries due to its location with ports on the Atlantic and Pacific -Commonwealth is a group of countries, mostly former British colonies, that now have independence under the symbolic protection of the British crown -they work together to promote better trade, health, and education to their countries -Canada has links with developing countries and is in a position of trade with European Community, a group of Western European countries that have united their economic resources
Explain British Colombia
-Inside Passage- waterway between the long string of offshore islands and the Coast Mountains of British Colombia -covered by mountains, so more than 4/5 live in Vancouver, which is an excellent harbor and major port on the Pacific Ocean -Asian immigration has increased Vancouver's population -capital- Victoria -southeastern tip of Vancouver with charm and gardens and a mild, wet climate -natural resources include salmon, forests, and minerals
What is Canada?
-a multicultural country that is compared to a mosaic of many pieces with varying colors -a lack of unity due to the history
Explain Canada's challenges today
-balancing natural resources to preserve - pipelines are good because they minimize the destruction of permafrost, but they cause habitat loss for animals - produce wood without destroying forests -Urbanization has led to problems involving housing, pollution, and overcrowding
Explain Canada's links with the US
-longest undefended border, travelers pay customs-fees charged by one country's government on goods people bring from another country -Cultural Links include radio television, baseball, and hockey -Economic Links - buy each others exports - Free Trade Agreement - an end to export barriers, including the elimination of all tariffs (taxes on imports) - Canadians could shop across the border for lower prices, but they were losing jobs and businesses -North American Free Trade Agreement - same thing just extended to Mexico -Canadians are uncomfortable because the relationship between Canada and the US is uneven -Canada's identity is overshadowed by the US -Canadians are aware of whats happening in the US, while Americans give no thought to their neighbors -Canadians want to be "something more than just this continent's attic"
Explain the history of Canada
-many of the people of Canada identify more strongly with regional and ethnic groups than the nation as a whole -ancestors - Britain and France -first people- Inuit and Natives - had stable societies and adapted easily - some lived along the coast for resources in forests and bays, while others were nomads hunting seals, walruses, moose, caribou, and buffalo - when Europeans began colonizing, the Native population decreased from disease and war -French and English - competed for North American fur trade and land -fought in North America and the British defeated the French at the Battle of Quebec, then France surrendered its empire which is now Canada - Canada remained under British rule until the British created the Dominion of Canada, which allowed Canada to have its own government (Britain still controlled military and foreign policy) - independent Canada - 1931 - Today, Canada's symbolic ruler is the British monarch
Explain the diversity and unity of Canada
-multicultural population of Inuits, Natives, British, French, Asian, mixed, and other Europeans -Inuits live in the North in Newfoundland, Ontario, and Quebec, Natives live on reserves -large numbers of Asians and Europeans in British Columbia
Explain the Northern Territories
1) Yukon Territory 2) Northwest Territories 3) Nunavut -Nunavut was carved from the Northwest Territories as a land claim with native peoples -residents are Inuits "the people" and they live North -contact with European ancestors has changed the ways Inuits live -they seal hunt and use snowmobiles, and children stay at home and learn through radio and television systems - minerals: gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, iron ore, uranium and petroleum and natural gas
