Transcript File
Standard: The student will explain the impact of location, climate, distribution of natural resources, and population distribution on Canada. Opening: How might climate affect where people choose to live and work in Canada? How might natural resources affect where people choose to live and work in Canada? Canada Physical Geography The Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains extend about 3,000 miles from Alaska south to New Mexico.. Canadian Shield The Canadian Shield is a rocky, mainly flat area around Hudson Bay. The rock from this area is made up of Precambrian rock (at least 550 million years old), and is known for rich natural resources like nickel, gold, silver, and copper. St. Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The river has a system of locks that allow large ships to transport loads of minerals and goods. Part of the river serves as the border between Canada and the United States. Hudson Bay Is a large body of water in northeastern Canada. It was found by Henry Hudson. The Great Lakes Serve as an important resource for Canada providing important access to trade and water. They also serve as a natural border for US and Canada. They contain 21% of the world’s fresh water. Population Notice that the majority of Canadians live near the US border and below the Canadian Shield. Natural Resources Coal in Canada’s western provinces Oil fields in Alberta and near Alaska Forests in Western Canada Physical Map of Canada Climate, natural resources, and Population Distribution What is population distribution? Population distribution shows how many people live in different regions of a country. How might climate affect the population distribution of Canada? So, the affect of climate on population distribution in Canada is… More people live in the moderate climate zones. Which are mostly in the southern part of Canada. Few people live in the north where the climate is very cold in winter, and cold in the summer as well. Natural Resources and Population Distribution What are natural resources? Natural Resources and Population Distribution Natural resources are resources that occur naturally. Not man made. How might natural resources affect the population distribution of Canada? So, the affect of natural resources on population distribution is… The population is greater along rivers, coasts, and other waterways. The population is greater where there are more natural resources. Why? Jobs Makes products cheaper, because they don’t have to travel as far to get to consumers. Location, climate, natural resources, and trade. How does the location of Canada affect trade? Being so close to the US means Canada doesn’t have spend much money on shipping products to the US. Canada and the US entered into NAFTA a trading bloc where they don’t have trade barriers. Location, climate, natural resources, and trade. How do natural resources affect trade? Canada’s natural resources Timber, oil, agricultural production, mining. Canadian Shield=nickel, gold, silver, and copper.