PHYSICAL FEATURES OF CANADA

◦ Canada is surrounded on three sides by 3 of the Earth’s major oceans:

◦ Canada is bordered in the South by the United States: They share a 3,000 mile long border. It is the longest unguarded border in the world

EAST: Atlantic Ocean

WEST: Pacific Ocean

NORTH: Arctic Ocean

UNITED STATES

Canada’s location affects “trade” and “travel”

Having coastlines along each of the 3major oceans, along with a southern border with the United States, makestrade / travel with the rest of the world easy for Canadians

They can

easily get

wherever

they want

in the

world!

The Great Lakes

HOMES: (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)

◦ The Great Lakes are located in southern Canada, four of which form part of the border between Canada and the U.S.

5 large freshwater lakes in central North America

One of the world’s busiest shipping areas

Most of Canada’s population lives here!

Lake Michigan is the only lake that does not touch Canada

St. Lawrence River◦ Located in eastern Canada

◦Major source of overseas and US/Canada

shipping & trade

◦ **Shortcut that connects the Great

Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean

◦Huge producer of hydroelectricity

Hudson Bay◦ HUGE inland sea in east

central Canada

◦ “an arm” of the Atlantic

Ocean

◦ Grain from Alberta &

Saskatchewan is

shipped from Hudson

Bay out to the Atlantic

and on to other

countries

◦ Only navigable from July to

October

Atlantic Ocean◦ Forms the eastern border of Canada

◦2nd largest of the earth’s 5 oceans

◦Most heavily traveled ocean

◦Major shipping route to Europe & Africa

Pacific Ocean ◦ Largest & deepest of the world’s 5 oceans

◦Covers 1/3 of the earth’s surface!

◦Western border of Canada

◦Major shipping route to Asia

Canadian Shield◦ Stretches from Great Lakes to Arctic Ocean; covers half of

Canada!

◦ Horseshoe region around Hudson Bay

◦ Region of mostly thin soil lying on top of rock, with many

bare outcrops of rock & thousands of lakes

◦ Major source of natural resources: timber (trees), minerals,

& water

◦ Region is sparsely populated

Rocky Mountains◦Mountains located in Western Canada

*Includes western Alberta and eastern British

Columbia

◦ Stretch a distance of 2,000 miles!

◦Mining is the biggest industry in the region,

followed closely by logging

*Major minerals include: iron ore, copper, coal,

gold

◦ Sparsely populated & contain few cities

Prove It…Show what you’ve learned

◦ Use R.A.C.E (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain) to

write a constructed response for the following

prompt:

◦ Canada is located between 3 oceans and 1

country. Name the oceans and country

bordering Canada? Explain how Canada’s

location impacts its ability to trade and travel

with the rest of the world? (2 task – Name and

Explain)