1. Landform Regions of
Canada
The movement of the earth’s plates, and the resulting
folding, faulting, and volcanic activity, have combined
with the forces of erosion and weathering to create a
variety of landscapes that
affect the way we live.

2. A Landform Region is an area of
the Earth with a unique set of
physical features.

3. Canada can be Divided into 8
Landform Regions:
1. Western Cordillera
2. Interior Plains
3. Canadian Shield
4. Great Lakes-St.Lawrence
Lowlands
5. Appalachian
6. Hudson Bay Lowlands
7. Arctic Lowlands
8. Innuitian Mountains

4. Landform Regions of Canada

5. Western Cordillera
• Physical Features:
– high mountains running north to
south
• Plants/ Animals:
– Lichens and shrubs higher up
– coniferous forest and grasslands
lower down
– deer, elk, bears lower down.
• Resources:
– Lightly populated, travel is difficult
– Lots of minerals, timber, and
sources of hydro electricity

6. Landform Regions of Canada

7. Interior Plains
• Physical Features:
– Very flat, with deep, fertile soil
– Cold winters, hot summers
• Plants:
– South -mostly treeless, with
grasses
– North - trees called the boreal
forest
• Resources:
– Farming wheat and cattle
– Known as Canada’s “Bread
Basket”
– Rock has rich mineral, coal, oil
and gas deposits

8. Landform Regions of Canada

9. Canadian Shield
• Physical Features:
– Mostly flat with rounded hills and
small lakes
• Plants / Animals:
– South - forest
– North - tundra (mainly no trees,
short summer, cold)
– Moose, caribou, otters, beaver,
bears
– Resources:
– Sparsely populated, not good for
farming - the soil is too thin
– Minerals such as lead, gold,
nickel, copper and zinc
– Ideal for recreation due to
waterfalls, lakes, and forests

10. Landform Regions of Canada

11. Great Lakes-St.Lawrence
Lowlands
• Physical Description:
– flat plains with small hills and
deep river valleys
– The great lakes are located
in basins gouged out by the
glaciers
• Plants:
– Before heavy farming and
cities this area was forests
• Resources:
– 50% of Canada’s population
and 70% of manufacturing
industries is here
– Good for farming - excellent
soils and warm climate

12. Landform Regions of Canada

13. Appalachian Mountains
• Physical Description:
– Rolling mountains and hills
• Plants/ Animals:
– Large, deciduous trees.
– Squirrels, rabbits and deer
– Resources:
– Long ocean bays provide deep
harbours for ocean freighters
– Coal, iron and zinc

14. Landform Regions of Canada

15. Hudson Bay Lowlands
• Physical Features:
– Flat low area with bogs, ponds, lakes and streams
• Plants / Animals:
– Wetlands
– Polar bears
– Caribou migrate to the
area in summer
– In summer -snow
geese, Canada geese
and swans
• Resources:
– Oil, natural gas

16. Landform Regions of Canada

17. Arctic Lowlands
• Physical Description:
– Low-lying, barren islands with
coastlines ranging from lowlands
to cliffs.
– Summer is short - cold and
frozen in the winter
– Dark all day in the winter and
light all day in the summer
• Plants:
– Sparsely vegetated (very few
plants)
• Resources:
– Mostly permafrost so
construction is difficult and
farming impossible

18. Landform Regions of Canada

19. Innuitian Mountains
• Physical Description:
– Very high mountains
– Plants:
– The mountains are too
high for plants to grow
• Resources:
– Largely unexplored, due
to the hostile climate.