The video tutorial allows you to get an interesting and detailed information about Canada. From the lesson you will get a complete description of Canada, its features geographical location, farms. The teacher will tell you in detail about the national composition of the country, the standard of living of the population.

Theme: North America

Lesson: Canada. Socio-economic characteristics

Canada- a state in North America, ranks second in the world in terms of area (almost 10 million square kilometers) after Russia. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, borders on the USA in the south and northwest, on Denmark (Greenland) in the northeast and France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) in the east. Canada's border with the US is the longest common border in the world. In addition, in terms of the total length of the coastline, Canada ranks first in the world. The capital is Ottawa.

According to the level of development, the country is among the highly developed countries of the world, is a member of numerous organizations, including a member of the G7.

The economic and geographical position of Canada is determined primarily by the fact that it has access to three oceans and borders on the United States.

Canada is part of the Commonwealth, so nominally the English monarch is considered the head of the country, although in reality Canada is an independent state.

Canada is federal state consisting of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The province with a predominantly French-speaking population is Quebec, the rest are predominantly English-speaking provinces, also called "English Canada" in comparison to French-speaking Quebec. As one of nine predominantly English-speaking provinces, New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual Canadian province. Yukon Territory is officially bilingual (English and French), while the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Territory recognize 11 and 4 official languages respectively. Canada is officially a bilingual country.

Rice. 2. Map of the administrative-territorial division of Canada ()

The population of Canada at the beginning of the year is more than 34 million people. In spite of large area Approximately 3/4 of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the US border. Canada is a relatively sparsely populated country on the globe: per 1 sq. km accounts for 3.4 people. Most of the population growth is due to immigration.

Canada is a very diverse country from an ethnic point of view. The majority of the population is made up of Anglo Canadians and French Canadians. Big share Irish, Scots, Italians, Chinese, Russians.

Indigenous people of Canada:

1. Indians.

2. Eskimos.

3. Indian-European mestizos.

The most common religions in the country are Protestantism and Catholicism.

HDI leaders by years (according to Wikipedia and UNDP)

2013 - Norway

2011 - Norway

2010 - Norway

2009 - Norway

2008 - Iceland

2007 - Iceland

2006 - Norway

2005 - Norway

2004 - Norway

2003 - Norway

2002 - Norway

2001 - Norway

2000 - Canada

1999 - Canada

1998 - Canada

1997 - Canada

1996 - Canada

1995 - Canada

1994 - Canada

1993 - Japan

1992 - Canada

1991 - Japan

1990 - Canada

1985 - Canada

1980 - Switzerland

Canada is currently ranked 10th in the ranking of countries in terms of living standards. Some believe that Canada is the most favorable country for people to live.

Largest cities in Canada(more than 1 million people (Ottawa and Vancouver - together with the suburbs)):

2. Montreal

3. Vancouver

4 Calgary

Canada is one of the richest countries in natural resources.

By the amount of forest resources, the country ranks 3rd (after Russia and Brazil). More than 50% of Canada is covered with coniferous forests. The country occupies a leading position in the production of paper, lumber, 1st place in the production of newsprint.

rich and soil resources Canada; favorable agroclimatic resources in southern regions country; huge water resources (10% of the world's fresh water).

In terms of quantity and variety of mineral resources, Canada is one of the great mining countries.

Rice. 4. The structure of the mining industry in Canada ()

The most important feature of the mining industry in Canada is its export orientation: more than 4/5 of all products of the extractive industries are supplied to the world market. Canada is the world's leading exporter of uranium, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, molybdenum, silver, platinum, asbestos, and potassium salts. In value terms, about 60% of Canadian mineral exports go to the US, 25% to Western Europe and 10% to Japan.

More than 4/5 of all reserves of potash salts of Western countries are concentrated in the bowels of the country, about 2/3 of nickel and zinc reserves, 2/5 of lead and uranium reserves, about 1/3 of iron and copper ore, titanium, tungsten. To this list one can add rather large reserves of oil and natural gas, coal, cobalt, platinum, gold, silver, asbestos and some other minerals.

This diversity is explained primarily by the peculiarities of the geological and tectonic structure of the territory of Canada. The basins and deposits of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt ores, gold, platinum, uranium are genetically associated primarily with the Precambrian Canadian Shield, which is composed of crystalline rocks emerging on the surface. Occupying an area of ​​4.6 million square meters. km, it stretches from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to the Great Lakes and the river. Saint Lawrence. In the west of the country, where the Mesozoic folding area is located and the Cordillera belt passes, basins and deposits of copper, polymetallic, molybdenum, tungsten, and mercury ores are especially common. And oil, gas, coal basins on tectonic map Canada should be sought within the marginal foredeep of the Cordillera and smaller intermountain troughs.

Almost all sectors of the economy have been developed in Canada. Canada's fuel and energy complex is one of the most developed in the world. Hydroelectric power plants are leading in the generation of electricity.

The main areas of oil and natural gas production are located in western provinces- Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The largest deposits are located here - Pembina, Redwater, Zama.

Mechanical engineering accounts for less than 30% of production and the number of people employed in the manufacturing industry, which is lower than in other developed countries. The main industry - transport engineering (production of automobiles, aircraft, diesel locomotives, ships, snowmobiles), dominated by American capital, is located in the southern part of the province of Ontario. Agricultural engineering, the production of power equipment, equipment for the mining and forestry industries are also developed. Weak development received the machine tool industry. The main centers of mechanical engineering are Toronto, Montreal, Windsor, Hamilton, Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver.

Production has stabilized in the ferrous metallurgy, which is in the hands of national capital. The leading metallurgical centers are located in the Lake District - Hamilton, Welland, Sault Ste. Marie, as well as along the Atlantic coast of the city of Sydney.

In non-ferrous metallurgy, the positions of American and British capital are strong. The smelting of non-ferrous metals - especially copper, nickel and aluminum - has reached large volumes. The major world centers included Sudbury, Thompson, Sullivan, Arvida, Kitimat and Port Colborne. Most enterprises work on local raw materials. A large-scale production of aluminum has been created using imported raw materials.

Canada has a developed oil refining industry. The most important centers located in Montreal, Sarnia, Vancouver and Edmonton.

The chemical industry is well developed and, in particular, the production of sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers, synthetic rubber, plastics. Main centers chemical industry- Montreal, Toronto, Niagara-Fole.

The timber and paper industry uses the richest forest resources. In terms of timber harvesting, Canada ranks 5th, in the production of lumber and paper - 3rd in the world (provinces - Quebec, Ontario). The country's role in the export of sawn timber and paper is even more significant: Canada is the world leader. 2/3 of paper and pulp production are located in the east, near the hydroelectric power station - on the St. Lawrence River. Large timber and paper mills are also located in the taiga zone in the north of the Steppe provinces and especially in British Columbia, where 2/3 of the sawmill industry is concentrated.

The food, clothing, and textile industries are also well developed, with major centers in Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec.

Agriculture is a highly developed branch of the Canadian economy. It is typical for him high level marketability, mechanization and specialization of production. About 4/5 of the area of ​​agricultural land is concentrated in large farms of 50 hectares or more. A significant part of farms is an integral part of large-scale agribusiness. Agricultural products on farms are produced on the basis of contracts with enterprises of the largest monopolies Food Industry. Central Canada is distinguished, first of all, by industries that meet the needs of the urban population: suburban vegetable growing, horticulture, dairy farming and poultry farming.

Rice. 5. Dairy products of Canada ()

Steppe provinces at the end of the last century began to turn into one of the leading areas of grain specialization. And at present, the cultivation of cereals determines Canada's specialization in the global market for agricultural products.

Fishing is also of great importance, developing on the basis of the rich biological resources of the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Inland fishing, like hunting, plays a smaller role.

Canada is one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural products.

Homework

Topic 9, Item 3

1. What are the features of the geographical position of Canada?

2. Tell us about the economy of Canada.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 cells: Textbook for educational institutions/ A.P. Kuznetsov, E.V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.

2. Economic and social geography of the world: Proc. for 10 cells. educational institutions / V.P. Maksakovskiy. - 13th ed. - M .: Education, JSC "Moscow textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.

3. Atlas with a set of contour maps for grade 10. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012. - 76 p.

Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A.T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.

2. Kulyshev Yu.A. Canada. - M.: Thought, 1989. - 144 p. - (At the map of the world). - 100,000 copies.

3. Nokhrin I.M. Socio-political thought of Canada and formation national consciousness(last third of the 19th - early 20th centuries). - Huntsville: Altaspera Publishing & Literary Agency, 2012. - 232 p.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination

1. Thematic control by geography. Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2009. - 80 p.

2. The most complete edition standard options real tasks of the Unified State Examination: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Textbook / Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukov. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.

5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Examination 2011. - M .: MTSNMO, 2011. - 72 p.

6. USE 2010. Geography. Collection of tasks / Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.

7. Tests in geography: Grade 10: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovskiy “Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.

8. The most complete edition of typical variants of real USE assignments: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.

9. Unified state exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for the preparation of students / FIPI - M .: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.

10. USE 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks/ O.V. Chicherina, Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.

11. USE 2012. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: national education, 2011. - 288 p.

12. USE 2011. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2010. - 280 p.

Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute pedagogical measurements ( ).

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

The United States of America neighbors Canada to the south and northwest. About half of Canada is occupied by the Laurentian Uplands. western border which forms a line between the Great Bear Lake in the north and Forest Lake in far south. Geologists call this vast area the Canadian Shield. The average height of the local landscape is about 500 m, but after ice age in some places, the remains of ancient folded mountains up to 1190 m high have been exposed. The Laurentian Upland lies in the Atlantic Ocean basin and is famous for its picturesque lacustrine-hilly relief. central part The Canadian Shield fills Hudson Bay. On its shores there is a lowland of the same name, which arose as a result of the uplift of the relief and the retreat of the sea after the melting of glaciers. Relatively recent tectonic processes led to the formation of the Arctic archipelago. The outlying ranges of the American Appalachians enter the territory of Canada. They border the valley of the St. Lawrence River from the south and stick out with sharp teeth of islands near east coast. These old mountains, dissected by steep gorges, form a system of small plateaus no more than 800 m high. The variety of rocks and geological structures suggests the presence of rich mineral resources in these parts. The highest point of this part of the Appalachians is Jacques-Cartier (1268 m). At the junction of the Laurentian Upland and the Appalachians lies the valley of the St. Lawrence River, which is a tectonic tectonic depression.

Total length Canada's heavily indented coastline is about 244,000 km long. sea ​​coast replete with peninsulas, bays and coastal archipelagos. In the north, huge bays go deep into the land. The largest of them, Hudson Bay, covers an area of ​​848,000 sq. km (together with the secondary James Bay adjacent to it). Canada's largest peninsula is Labrador (1,430,000 sq. km). Along northern shores country lies the Arctic archipelago (the most big Island- Baffin Island). The largest island off the east coast is Newfoundland, and in the Pacific Ocean is Vancouver.

Administrative divisions of Canada

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Population of Canada

The indigenous people of Canada are Indians and Eskimos. Most of the Indian population is scattered across taiga reserves, and a certain part of them still live off hunting and fishing. The main occupation of the Eskimos inhabiting the northern coast of Canada, Baffin Island and the Labrador Peninsula is sea fishing. National composition and the distribution of the population developed as a result of the colonization of this part of the continent by European settlers that began in the 16th century. For more than one hundred years, these lands have been the scene of fierce confrontation between the English and French colonists. If the French settled in the valley of the St. Lawrence River, then the British firmly settled in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the Great Lakes region. Nevertheless, by the end of the 19th century, only a negligible part of the territory of Canada had been mastered, and only the laying of the transcontinental railroad gave impetus to the mass settlement of the prairies. In those years, Canada received several million immigrants from Western and of Eastern Europe, including immigrants from Russia and Ukraine.

Economy of Canada

About 74 million hectares are occupied by agricultural land in Canada (the average area of ​​one farm is over 240 hectares). There are two large agricultural regions in the country. The first is located on flat plains along the shores of the Great Lakes and in the valley of the St. Lawrence River. All Canadian corn and soybeans, 90% of grapes and tobacco, as well as a good half of potatoes and vegetables are grown here. The same region supplies 50% of milk and eggs to the national market. Second in importance agricultural area- These are prairies, famous for high wheat yields and developed animal husbandry. beautiful raw material base serves as a reliable basis for the development of forestry. According to some estimates, Canada owns more than 9% of all forest land on the planet. Modern pulp and paper production is directly related to logging and woodworking. Fishing is one of the oldest branches of the national economy. A significant part of the catch is obtained in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, although inland waters are also of great commercial importance. Possessing rich mineral resources, Canada ranks first in the world in the extraction of nickel and zinc ores. The country has large deposits of copper, iron, gold, lead and molybdenum, and coal is one of the leading export items. The uranium mined in the country is used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Natural gas and oil deposits are being developed.

A powerful impetus to the development of the Canadian economy was given by World War II. The military industry has grown in the country, a number of new industries have emerged, and the influx of American investments, large-scale trade between neighboring states unfolded. The deepening of US-Canadian economic integration continues today. The US is Canada's main export partner, and about 30% of Canadian businesses are owned by US companies.

Economic and geographical position of Canada

Remark 1

Canada occupies the northern part of the North American continent and is the second largest state in the world.

Its southern and northwestern border by land runs with the United States. In addition to land borders, Canada has maritime boundaries- in the northeast it borders on the Danish autonomous territory Greenland and to the east with the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

The territory of Canada is washed by three oceans - the northern coast is washed by the North Arctic Ocean, from the east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west - Pacific Ocean.

She also has polar possessions in the Arctic zone, there are claims to part of the continental shelf, including North Pole.

The country itself, its land and sea neighbors are highly developed capitalist states well endowed with natural resources.

One of the important factors of Canadian prosperity is its efficient transport system, which combines railways, highways and airlines.

All these modes of transport have been developed in the south of the country. The small population of the northern part is almost not provided with transport, there are very few roads.

The north and south of the country are interconnected mainly by air transport. The longest highway in Canada connects the steppe regions with the western and eastern provinces. This "main street of Canada", as it is called, has a length of 8 thousand km.

Sufficient development has maritime and river transport. The St. Lawrence River is the largest transport artery, and the ports located on it are mainly of the lake type.

The largest airports are located in the central region of the country, for example, Mirabel Airport.

The main population of the country is concentrated in the south of Canada and mineral resources are mined here, in addition, the south of Canada is conveniently located to the mineral resources of the Great American Lakes, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich there are US iron ore reserves.

What distinguishes Canada from the developed capitalist countries is its own raw materials and energy base, which exceeds the needs of the economy.

Canada is not only a member but also a founding member of NATO. She has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. The country took part on the side of the Allies in the First and Second World Wars. She took part in the Korean War on the US side.

This industrial-agrarian country has great economic potential and occupies one of the leading places among developed countries in terms of gross national product.

Remark 2

Thus, despite the fact that most of the country lies in harsh conditions, its economic and geographical position is favorable and contributes to high economic development economy. This is explained open exit into three oceans, the presence of borders with highly developed countries, a well-developed transport system and proximity to international transport routes, which contributed to the development of the territory and the attraction of immigrants, as well as large reserves of various mineral resources that underlie the development of the economy.

Natural conditions of Canada.

The relief of Canada is mainly represented by rolling plain, which is limited by mountain uplifts in the west and east.

The Canadian Cordillera stretches along the Pacific coast in the west. They begin on the border with Alaska and have a height of 2000-2700 m.

The rocky mountains are divided by river valleys into two ridges located meridionally in southbound. The western slopes of these ranges are covered with coniferous forest, while the eastern slopes are rocky and bare. Individual peaks of these ranges have heights up to 4000 m.

To the west of the Rocky Mountains is a volcanic plateau.

The coastal Pacific mountains are also divided into two ridges running along the meridian. They are separated by a longitudinal valley, which is flooded in the southern part by the sea.

IN western belt there are high sections of mountains, in the south these are the coastal islands of Vancouver, Queen Charlotte, and in the northern part on the border with Alaska they end with the massifs of the mountains of St. Elijah and Logan - this is the highest point of Canada (5959 m). The mountains are covered with glaciers that cut off to the sea.

On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean of Canadian territory, the Appalachian Mountains of the United States continue.

Here, in the east of the country, there are the Notre Dame mountains on the right bank of the St. Lawrence, the Shikshok massif in the northern part of the Gaspé peninsula, the Kibkid mountains, cut through by the valley of the St. John River. The height of the mountains is not more than 700 m.

Newfoundland Island has a height of 805 m. From Lake Superior to the coast of the Arctic Ocean, a vast area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe Canadian Shield stretches - this is a low country composed of crystalline rocks. On the modern surface of this country, traces of recent glaciation are visible - “ram's foreheads”, lake basins, rapids rivers, a thin soil layer.

On the Labrador Peninsula there are bare stone hills and rocks. The height of the terrain on the southern and western coasts of Hudson Bay is no more than 200 m. The terrain rises to 500 m towards Lake Superior. The eastern part of the Labrador Peninsula is mountainous.

On the northern coast of Canada, a low-lying strip stretches along the Mackenzie River, which extends far into the interior of the mainland.

Between the Canadian Shield and the Rocky Mountains there is a plain, up to 400 m high. Lakes are located on it:

• Manitoba,
• Winnipeg,
• Winnipegosis.

On the second step of the plain, the Coto de Missouri plateau was formed, up to 1000 m high. Closer to southern border countries are wooded and cypress mountains with flat tops, whose height is 1000-1100 m.

The northern part of Canada lies within the subarctic climate zone, the rest of the territory in a temperate continental quite mild climate. For winter period temperatures fluctuate in the north from -35 degrees to +4 in the south of the Pacific coast.

In the south of the country, the average temperature in July is +21 degrees, and in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from -4 degrees in the north to +4 degrees in the south.

Outside the Arctic Circle, the amplitude is constantly kept below zero. Each region of the country is characterized by its individual climate.

The Atlantic Ocean in the south-east of the country somewhat softens the winter and at the same time brings heavy precipitation in the form of snowfalls. Summer period it is longer here than in other areas, but it is not hot here. Atmospheric pressure changes frequently and dramatically.

West of the Rocky Mountains on the Pacific coast, the climate is milder and more temperate. Winters in the west are very wet, summers are moderate in the south and cooler in the north. The Rocky Mountains prevent this climate from spreading inland.

The cold Labrador Current, which runs along the Canadian coast, contributes to the formation of the climate of the Atlantic coast.

Natural resources of Canada

Miscellaneous tectonic structure And large territory provided a wealth of mineral resources.

The country has on its territory noble metals, iron ore, hydrocarbons, coal, asbestos, potassium salts, non-ferrous metal ores, uranium, etc.

Coal deposits are located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in the province of Alberta, in the Appalachians, in the coastal provinces.

Iron ores occur in the Lake Superior basin and on the Labrador Peninsula. There are reserves in the Lake Huron and Athabasca region uranium ore, in the province of Quebec and British Columbia - large stocks of asbestos.

Plain territories are rich in minerals of sedimentary origin - hydrocarbons, potassium salts.

The western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia became the main areas of oil production. The fuel and energy complex of the country is very developed.

Coal mining has grown since the second half of the 20th century. The reason was the discovery and development of deposits in the western provinces of the country. Coal is exported mainly to Japan.

Wealth mineral resources enables Canada to be the largest supplier of minerals to the developed capitalist countries and, above all, to the USA.

About 45% of Canada's territory is occupied by forests; in terms of timber reserves, the country ranks 3rd. Large stocks of timber were the basis for the development of the timber and pulp and paper industries.

IN natural potential special place belongs water resources, in terms of reserves of which, after Brazil and Russia, it is also in 3rd place.

The most common in Canada are infertile podzolic soils, characteristic of the northern regions of the country. In areas with summer precipitation, fertile chernozem soils are formed. In areas with precipitation of at least 360 mm, chestnut soils were formed. Grayish soils are common in arid areas.

Physical and geographical position of Canada

Physically, Canada can be divided into five parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (to the west).

Canadian Lands - Complicated geological structure with the breeds of the most different ages. Next to the ancient Canadian Shield are the young Cordilleras.

More than half of the country is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. It still bears traces of recent glaciation: smooth rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain.

This is the most unsuitable part of the country for human habitation, but it has huge reserves of minerals.

Both from the north and from the south, the Laurentian Plateau is surrounded by vast lowlands - the Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowland, and the lowland of the Hudson Strait. They represent a typical picture of the Canadian landscape and they brought fame to Canada as a spacious country with favorable climatic and geographical conditions.

The steppes are mostly located in the south of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which are called the steppe provinces. The Laurentian lowland is in favorable climatic conditions- temperate climate and fertile soil. Here is the economic center of the country.

The Appalachian Mountains are located in southeastern Canada. They are rich in minerals. The average height of the mountain range does not exceed 600 m. To the northwest of the Appalachian Mountains lies the Canadian Shield, which consists mainly of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, rapids rivers. From the west and south, the Canadian Shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from the Great Bear to the Great Lakes.

To the west of the Canadian Shield are the Great Plains. Their southern part - the Interior Lowlands - is the agricultural center of the country, 75% of all cultivated land. The Cordillera stretches along the Pacific coast - 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. In the east they are called the Rocky Mountains, in the west they are called the Coast Range. The average height of the mountains is 2-3 thousand meters above sea level.

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and lowlands overgrown with forests, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains, or prairies, cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of Alberta. Now it is the main agricultural land of the country.

Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while to the east are the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls. The Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed over 2.5 billion years ago, covers most of the north of the country. IN Arctic region you can find only the tundra, which breaks up to the north into islands covered with ice almost all year round.

most high point Canada is Mount Logan with a height of 5950 m above sea level. The main natural resources are nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, coal, oil, natural gas.

The land suitable for cultivation is only 5% of the territory of Canada. Another 3% of the land is used for pastures. Forests and forest plantations occupy 54% of the entire territory of Canada. The irrigated land is only 7100 sq. km.

Canada is the second largest country in the world (10 million sq. km.), which is surpassed in size only by Russia. Canada occupies 1/12 of the earth's land and has the longest coastline equal to 3 equators. Canada is located in North America. It borders the United States to the south and northwest. land border The US is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, as it is simply mathematical point- The North Pole, where the borders of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast by Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east - Atlantic Ocean, and in the west - Pacific.

Canada's climate varies from temperate in the south to arctic in the north.

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and lowlands overgrown with forests, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains, or prairies, cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of Alberta. Now it is the main agricultural land of the country. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east contains the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls, the Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed over 2.5 billion years ago. years ago, covers most of the north of the country. In the arctic region, only tundra can be found, which breaks up into islands to the north, covered with ice almost all year round.

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5,950 meters above sea level.

Climate of Canada

Due to the vast extent of the country from north to south (5 thousand km) and from west to east (6.5 thousand km), the climate is very diverse. Part of the Canadian mainland and most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago lie in the permafrost zone. The rest of the North temperate zone. In the coastal provinces, winters are not so cold. And the summer is not so hot because of the influence of the ocean. The average January temperature in the north is 35 C, in the south - 20 C, in the Atlantic - 5 C, in the Pacific - 4 C; July temperature ranges from 5 C on the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to 22 C in the south of the country. On the western coast of the country, the climate is influenced by warm ocean currents causing, among other things, high humidity. In the mountainous regions, there are areas that are quite dry, despite the fact that rain and snowfall are frequent in the Selkirk Mountains. Precipitation decreases as you move from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to the central regions. The annual precipitation in the east is 1000-1400 mm, in the central part - 200-500 mm, in the extreme west - up to 250 mm, in the north - less than 150 mm. In winter, Canada turns into fairyland where giant mountains, impenetrable forests, endless steppes are covered with thick ice. The maximum thickness of the snow cover is up to 150 cm (Labrador Peninsula). In general, winters in the country are characterized by heavy snowfalls and frosts, and summers by moderate temperatures.

Vegetation

On the far north on the northern islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, there is a zone of arctic deserts with a rare cover of lichens and a few herbaceous species. To the south it is replaced by the tundra zone, located on southern islands Canadian Arctic Archipelago and mainland coast. Further to the south, stretching in a strip from the foothills of the Cordillera to the Atlantic coast, there is a zone of forest-tundra and pre-tundra woodlands on permafrost-taiga, for the most part rocky soils and a zone of taiga forests, which are dominated by stands of white and black spruce, American larch, Banks pine and balsam fir. In the south of the central regions, the taiga is replaced by zones of forest-steppes and steppes with characteristic park forests of aspen and the dominance of dry-steppe vegetation, such as kovyel, grama grass. In the extreme southeast, south of the taiga, there is a zone of coniferous-deciduous forests; forests have been preserved mainly in relatively inaccessible areas, like the Appalachian Uplands. In the Cordillera there is altitudinal zonality. In the north, the mountain-taiga forests of the valleys on the slopes are replaced by mountain-taiga light forests, turning into mountain tundra. In the south, in the interior of the mountainous regions, the valleys are occupied mountain steppes, which above are replaced by belts of mountain forest-steppes, park forests, mountain coniferous forests. the Pacific slopes of the Cordillera, from foot to peak, are occupied by tall coastal forests of giant arborvitae, western gelpok, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, giant fir, and other very productive species. The average annual growth of trees here is 10 cubic meters. m/ha, and the age-old reserve is 900-940 cubic meters/ha (against 5-6 cubic meters/ha and 500-550 cubic meters/ha in coniferous-deciduous forests and 1-3 cubic meters/ha and 100 -300 cubic meters/ha in the taiga). The total forest area of ​​Canada is over 440 million hectares (over 1/3 of the territory of Canada). Industrial scaffolding occupy 240 million hectares, concentrating in themselves a timber reserve of about 21-22 billion cubic meters. m.

Animal world of Canada

The territory of Canada belongs to the non-Arctic zoogeographical region. On the islands of the Canadian Archipelago and in the tundra zone on the mainland, reindeer, musk ox, polar bear, arctic fox are found. Lemmings, polar hare, tundra partridge, snowy owl. Elk, forest deer, bison, red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, porcupine, hare, marten, bear, lynx, red fox, wolf, and beaver live in the taiga zone and partly in the forest-tundra. The coniferous-broad-leaved forests of eastern Canada are characterized by the virgin deer, tsaliti deer, marmot, hares, raccoon, gray squirrel, and red lynx. The southern treeless regions are inhabited by donkey deer, pronghorn antelope, pouched gopher rats, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs. Steppe ferret. Steppe fox, badger. Coyote.

The Cordillera is dominated by specific high-altitude animal species: mountain goat, mountain sheep, grizzly bear, cougar. Rivers and lakes. The coastal waters are also rich in fish. In Atlantic waters, cod, herring, haddock, flounder, and crabs are of the greatest commercial importance; in the Pacific waters, mainly salmon are caught: sockeye salmon. Pink salmon, etc. In the lakes, the main commercial fish are whitefish and lake trout. Insects and reptiles in Canada are not at all different and they are found only in the south. Canada has a large number of nature reserves and national parks. They occupy an area equal to 730,000 sq. km. The most famous are: Wood Buffalo National Park, which houses the largest herd of bison; National parks Kootenay, Tlassier and Yoho, famous for their glaciers and waterfalls; Jasper National Park - Glaciers, lakes. Hot springs, among animals - bears, mountain goats and elks; the oldest national park in Canada, which is a mountain resort with hot springs - Bauff Park; national park "Elk - Island" (elk island) - a large number of beautiful forest lakes. Animals include moose and bison.

Water resources

The area of ​​the country is 9.970.610 sq. km, of which 755.180 sq. km is occupied by freshwater lakes and rivers. The rivers are fed mainly by snow and rain, on the plains - by a high spring rein. Summer floods in the Cordillera. The duration of freeze-up is from 3 months in the south, up to 9 months in the north. Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world. In addition to the Great Lakes, partly located in Canada, there are 31 other large lakes in the country. The most famous are the Great Bear, Great Slave, Lakes Winnipeg, Athabasca, Manitoba, Nipigan, Mistasini. The largest rivers in Canada are the St. Lawrence, St. John, Saskatchewan, the Mackenzie River along with the Slave, the largest river in Canada that flows into the Pacific Ocean is the Fraser River.

Relief

The central part of the mainland land and the adjacent land of the Canadian Aurktic Archipelago is occupied by plains that are located no higher than 200 m above sea level, i.e. plateau lowlands, i.e. plains lying relatively high above sea level and separated from neighboring areas by steep slopes. Stand out: the lowland of the Hudson Bay, which has an exceptionally flat relief; Lavreptian upland, its height reaches up to 1000 m and has a characteristic lacustrine-hilly relief; central plains(the Mackenzie River Lowland, the Manitoba Lowland, the Alberta and Saskatchewan Plains, the site. Enclosed between Lakes Erie, Huron and Ontario, the so-called "Ontario Peninsula", and the lowland of the St. Lawrence River Valley), whose topography is dominated by glacial-accumulative forms; foothill plateau. The Great Plains, whose height is from 500 to 1500 m, as well as with characteristic erosional dissection and forms of glacial accumulation. The western edge of Canada is occupied by the Cordillera mountain system. The height of the Cordillera is 3000 - 3500m, the highest mountain Logan with a height of 6050 m. mountain system includes Mount St. Epias (5483 m), Mount Lucania (5226 m), Mount King Peak (5173 m), in the northeast along the coast of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and in the north of the Labrador Peninsula - a strip of mountains 1500-2000 m high . in the extreme southeast, the region of the Appalachian Uplands with a low-mountain relief. The Appalachians are located in eastern North America. They lie in the territory of Canada and the USA. They form a strip of ridges, valleys, plateaus and plateaus, 300-500 km wide. They stretch from the southwest to the northeast from 33 degrees north latitude. up to 49 degrees N at 2600 km. The Appalachians are divided into northern and southern. The northern Appalachians border in the northwest along a large fault (Logan Line) with the Canadian Shield.

Canada can be divided into 7 well-defined physiographic regions:

1. Arctic mountains

Much of Elslier Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This region is high-latitude and extremely cold. Surface forged permafrost, in most of the territory - ice sheets, reminiscent of the conditions that prevailed in a large part North America during the Pleistocene period.

2. Laurentian (Canadian) shield

The territory of this region is limited by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrocks. local forms relief - the heritage of the Pleistocene. As massive ice sheets were absent to the north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. Within this area are thousands of lakes reminiscent of the last ice age in North America. In the center of the district is Hudson Bay. The entire region, which is shaped like a circle, covers half of Canada. South part this area goes beyond Canada and extends to Northern regions Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York.

3 Appalachian Mountains

The Maritime Provinces and the insular Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian system, which begins in Alabami and runs through the eastern United States and Canada. This mountainous area ancient rock formations is also the first area with permanent settlements of Europeans.

4. Interior Plains

Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and canopy-undulating relief extends from the United States into the steppe provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific coast. Together Canadian shield and the Interior Plains are an area of ​​low relief that covers approximately 60% of Canada and the United States.

5. Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains rise abruptly to impressive heights along the western edge interior plains. In clear contrast to the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks often exceeding 3,000 meters.

6. Intermountain regions

To the west is a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific coast. This area, extremely complex in geological terms, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

7. Pacific mountain system

The western edge of the continent is a mountain wall stretching from Alaska through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in Southern California.

The climatic regions of Canada are very similar to those of the Russian Federation. In the north, the tundra region extends from the Canadian archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ends at Atlantic coast Newfoundland. South of the tundra extends a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and the Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

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