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.