Canadian Geography 1202

Introduction:

What is Geography?

Geography: The study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these.

What is Canada?

Canada: Landscape and Place

What does Canada mean to you? Think..... Landscapes: Natural and human features

that you can see in an area( mountains, rivers, lakes, farms, fishing stages)

Place: Any point on the earth that can be defined (CN Tower, Joe’s House, Terra Nova Park, or under a shady tree)

Canada’s Place on the Planet

Canada is the second largest country in the world

Finding Place: Relative Location

Relative Location: Locating in relation to something else. I live by the water. The park is by the school Gambo is close to Gander

Finding Place: Absolute Location

Absolute Location: Using Latitude to pinpoint a location Latitude: Lines that run in the same

direction as the equator. Measuring distance N or S

Longitude: Lines that pass through both poles. Measuring distance E or W of prime meridian.

Latitude

Longitude

Canada’s Place in Space

We have seasons because Earth is tilted on its axis.

If tilted away from the sun we have winter

If tilted toward the sun we have summer

In spring and fall we are neutral.

Canada’s Place in Space

Regions

Region: A part of the earth’s surface that has characteristics different than other areas

Canada’s Landform Regions:1. Western Cordillera2. Interior Lowlands3. Arctic Lowlands4. Innutian Mountains5. Canadian Shield6. Hudson Bay Lowlands7. Appalachian Mountains8. Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowlands

Canada’s Landform Patterns

Earth’s Building Blocks

Rocks Igneous Rock: Formed when magma

coolsBasalt Granite

Earth’s Building Blocks

Sedimentary: Formed by layers of sediment becoming compacted

Banded iron formation

Travertine

Earth’s Building Blocks

Metamorphic: Formed when sedimentary or igneous rocks are subjected to heat and pressure and change

Building Mountains

Plate Tectonics: The movement of Earth’s crustal plates

Plates: Large pieces of Earth’s crust that move.

Plates are moved by currents in the mantle

Where plates meet mountains are formed

Plate Tectonics Video

Faults: Cracks in the earth where plates meet

Tension: Force that happens when plates move apart

Normal Fault: Fault that happens when plates move away from each other

Compression: Force that occurs when plates collide

Reverse Fault: Type of fault that occurs when plates meet

Folding: When forces of compression cause the earth’s crust to fold

Folding is the cause of most of the mountains in Canada

Appalachian Mountains formed more than 300 million years ago from the collision of the North American Plate with the African and European Plates

Canada’s Western mountains were formed 65 million years ago mostly from the Pacific and North American plates

Nature Shapes the Landscape

Forces that wear down a landscape

Weathering: The breaking down of rocks into smaller particles by wind, water, ice, plant roots, and some chemical reactions

Erosion: The movement of broken up particles to other places

The Power of Ice

The landscape that we know in Canada has been shaped by glaciers

Glaciers are key components in erosion and deposition

Deposition: the laying down of earth materials

As glaciers move they pick up materials

As they melt they drop them Glacier Video

The Power of Ice

Canada was covered by ice 12-20 000 years ago.

Laurentide Ice Sheet Glaciers are responsible for

Carving out the Great Lakes Depositing material on the Lowlands Carved valleys Dug lakes in Newfoundland and Labrador Fjords

Investigating Interactions

Interactions: Influences that people or things have on each other. Nature has an impact on people People have an impact on the

environment People have an impact on people

Interactions: Influences

that people or things have

on each other.

Nature has an impact on peoplePeople have an impact on the environment People have an impact on

people

Investigating Interactions

Sustainability

We need to study interactions in the environment to make sure they are sustainable!!

Managing natural resources to make sure enough is left

to last for the future

What are some examples of sustainable resource uses????

How Nature Affects People

Nature affects where and how we live!!!

Earthquake Tsunami Volcano Flood Tornado Hurricane

Topographic Maps

Topographic Map: A map that shows natural and human features on the earth and the relationship between them.

Used to: Find distance Plan routes Plan where to build a building Find the best way to resolve

environmental issues.

Four Digit Grid System: Locating system that uses four digits to locate general areas on a map. First two digits are East, West, the second

two are North, South Six Digit Grid System: Locating

system that uses six digits to locate specific areas on a map. First three digits are E-W the second

three are N-S.

Topographic Maps

Easting: Number on the map that gives position east or west

What is the Easting for? A: B: C: D:

Topographic Maps

Northing: Number on the map that gives position north or South

What is the Northing for? A: B: C: D:

Topographic Maps

What is the six digit location for A: B: C: D:

Topographic Maps

Elevation: The height above sea level of a piece of land

Relief: The difference in elevation or slope between two areas of land

Contour Line: A line on a map that marks elevation

Contour Line : The difference in elevation between contour lines on a map

Topographic Maps

Symbols on a Map Point Symbol: A standard point symbol

that marks all features of one kind on a map regardless of size.

Line Symbol: A standard linear symbol that marks all features of one kind on a map regardless of width

Area Symbol: A standard symbol on a map that shows an area is covered with a particular feature.

Symbols

Topographic Maps

Features Compass Rose: feature on a map that enables you to

tell direction Scale: The ratio between the map and actual size

Large Scale: Shows a small area in higher detail Small Scale: Shows a larger area in lower detail Ratio Scale: may be listed as a ratio 1:1000 Linear Scale: Scale may be given as a line that represents

a distance Statement of Scale: There may be a statement saying how

much each centimeter on the map is in actual distance. Legend: Area on a map the explains what the

symbols represent in reality.

Sustainable

Development

Improving quality of living in a way that

uses resources wisely and makes sure

there is some left for the future.

To make using oil more sustainable we might•Invest the profits in solar or wind energy•Use public transit•Car pool•Research other fuels

Bioregio

ns Planning to create sustainable

communities often focuses on

bioregions

•Bioregion: Small local region with

distinct natural features (climate, soils,

plants, animals, landforms)

• The bioregion you are in is usually determined by

your watershed.

•Watershed: The drainage basin that collects all of

the rain water that falls in your area.

Why Geography is Important

Geography will teach you:

Where things are

located

The imprints and patterns made

by features (Human and

Natural)And why these patterns

change

Economic, Social and environmental consequences of change

The connection between people and their environment

To find solutions for challenges