Major Canadian Major Canadian LandformsLandformsActivity Sheet – Answer Key and NotesA. BourgaizeSocial Studies 9

Canadian ShieldCanadian ShieldHow old is it?

◦4 billion years oldHow was it formed?

◦Active volcanoes, plains, mountains.◦Erosion (water and ice) and deposition

(plate movement) created thick rockWhat natural resources exist

here?◦Thin, acidic soils◦Some good farming land

Arctic LowlandsArctic LowlandsHow old is it?

◦Probably 2-4 billion years because worn down

How was it formed?◦Plateau and lowland plains – probably

through erosion/glaciationWhat natural resources exist here?◦Treeless◦Poorly drained soil◦Short growing season – lichen & moss

Innuitian MountainsInnuitian MountainsHow old is it?

◦Young, mesozoicHow was it formed?

◦Colliding plates (mountains)◦Not yet worn by erosion

What natural resources exist here?◦Too cold for trees

Western CordilleraWestern CordilleraHow old is it?

◦Young, cenozoicHow was it formed?

◦Plates collideWhat natural resources exist here?◦Valleys – good soils◦Delta – rich soils◦Forest (on west facing slopes)

Appalachian MountainsAppalachian MountainsHow old is it?

◦375 million years agoHow was it formed?

◦Mountains worn down by ice and water

What natural resources exist here?◦Deep, fertile soils◦Deciduous trees◦Coniferous trees in north

Interior PlainsInterior PlainsHow old is it?

◦Ranges: Paleozoic to CenozoicHow was it formed?

◦Inland seas receded◦erosion

What natural resources exist here?◦Sparse vegetation, cacti (southern

central)◦Deep soils (chernozem, 25cm deep,

black) – good for growing wheat

Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Great Lakes – St. Lawrence LowlandsLowlandsHow old is it?

◦Paleozoic How was it formed?

◦faulting◦Flooded by Champlain sea◦When retreated left clay and sand

leaving area level◦Erosion and deposition

What natural resources exist here?◦Brown earth – fertile soil

Hudson Bay Lowlands Hudson Bay Lowlands ***not ***not on sheet***on sheet***

How old is it?◦Paleozoic

How was it formed?◦Flat and poorly drained◦deposition

What natural resources exist here?◦Tundra◦Podzols◦Swamp forests