Canada Essay, Research Paper

The Physical Regions of Canada

Canada is divided into six regions. The regions are the Atlantic region,

the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region, the Shield region, the Plains

region, the Cordillera region, and the North region. Each of these

different regions all have their own special traits which make them unique

from the others. Things such as area, population density, economy,

resources, etc. divide the regions and give them the identity they have.

In the Atlantic region are the provinces of New Brunswick,

Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec.

This region was first settled by Aboriginals, but today only 5% of the

tribes are still around.

The size of the provinces in this region is quite small, yet their

population density is the highest in all of Canada. This is because there

are a lot of people in a small area. These people’s number one natural

resource has been fishing. Since they live right on the coast of the

Atlantic ocean, its no wonder why.

This region has impacted Canada because they supply the country

with revenue from the fish industry, as well as their abundant forest

industry. However, because of differences in culture and lifestyles the

people in this region have and that of the rest of the country,

stereotypes have arisen, and this hasn’t helped in uniting Canada as a

country.

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region consists of Ontario and

Quebec. It is split into two parts by a thin arm of the Canadian Shield.

This region is where the majority of Canada’s population is centered.

Canada’s two most populated cities, Toronto and Montreal, are set in this

region.

Moreover, this region is excellent for agriculture, as it has good

soil, a great supply of fresh water, and a long growing season. This

region affects Canadian unity because it is a key area for manufacturing,

and it is recognized for its dense population.

The largest region in area is the Shield region. It covers more

than half of Canada and includes parts of the Northwest Territories,

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador

(Newfoundland).

Furthermore, Forestry and logging are very important to the

Shield’s economy. It is also rich with minerals and rocks. Many cities

have grown up around the mines. Also, hydro-electricity is a key source

of power for the region, as it has many major rivers and lakes. The

Shield also attracts many tourists.

Directly West of the Shield region is the Plains region. The

Plains region consists mainly of Alberta and Saskatchewan, but also parts

of Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and British Columbia. This region has

many huge flat fields of golden grains such as wheat.

Henceforth, the oil industry in this region also plays a major

part in the Plains region’s economy. There are many oil wells throughout

the region, especially in Alberta, so it brings in a lot of revenue to

this region. The Plains region sells oil to many parts of Canada and is

recognized for it.

Right along the Pacific Rim lies the Cordillera region. It is

made up of mostly British Columbia and the and the Yukon Territory, but

also contains parts of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. One of the

major industries of this region is the mining industry. Places such as

the Crowsnest Pass contain a great variety of rock types and valuable

minerals.

Another major natural resource is the forest industry. Because

the wood in the Plains region is mainly timber, it can be sold as lumber,

rather than turning it into pulp wood. Also, because the region is right

on the Pacific Rim, it can export and import goods to all countries on the

Pacific Rim via cargo ship. One of the major trade partners is the U.S.

The Cordillera region’s connections bring the rest of Canada to them for

their import/export needs.

The final region, the North region, is nearly all of the Northwest

Territories, but contains small parts of the Yukon Territory, Manitoba,

and Ontario. It also has a small block of North Quebec, as well. The

basis of the economy of the North region is the trapping and fishing

industry. Because of new technologies in transportation, the resources

that this region has are much more easily accessible and can be

transported to other regions with ease. This region has also become much

more populated over the last 50 years.

In conclusion, Canada is obviously a very diverse country, and the

different features and resources each of the regions has shows this.

Because each region has something special that the other regions don’t,

each region must look to the other regions for certain resources and

products. This brings Canada together and keeps it from individualizing

into small independent, self-reliant areas.