Describe the features of Canada's geographic location. Geographical location of Canada. Features of natural conditions. What are the features of Canada's geographic location?

1.1 Geographical location of Canada

Canada See Appendix 1 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 landmass 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, and the US land border is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, as it is simply mathematical point - North Pole, where the boundaries of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast is Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west is the Pacific Ocean.

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

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and forested lowlands, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains or prairies cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta. Now this is the main agricultural land of the country. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east is home to the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls, the Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed by more than 2.5 billion. years ago, covers most of the north of the country. IN Arctic region you can only find the tundra, which further north is divided into islands covered with ice almost all year round.

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level.

Physical-geographical location of Canada:

Physiographically, Canada is divided into five main parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast of the country), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (in the west). The territory of the country is complex geological structure, where there are rocks of various ages. Next to the oldest geological formation, which is the Canadian Shield, there are young mountains - the Cordillera.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. This is the oldest part of the Canadian landmass, covered in the recent past by a glacier and still bearing traces of glaciation: smoothed rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain. This is the most rugged and uninhabited part of the country, but with huge mineral reserves.

From the north and south, the plateau is surrounded by large lowlands - the Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands, which represent a characteristic picture of the Canadian landscape and brought Canada the glory of a country of boundless expanses with favorable natural conditions.

In spring, the boundless expanse of steppes is covered with a green carpet, in summer - with a golden blanket, and in winter - with a white blanket. Such steppes are mainly located in the southern parts of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which is why these provinces are called steppe. The Laurentian Lowland is located in the most favorable climatic conditions - a temperate climate and fertile soils. That's why the main one is here economic region countries.

In the southeast of the country lie the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient mountain system rich in minerals like our Urals. Their average height does not exceed 600 m. The Appalachians are covered with dense forests. To the northwest of the Appalachians is the Canadian Shield, consisting of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. From the west and south, the shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes. The Canadian Shield region is a rugged and sparsely populated part of the country.

West of the Canadian Shield lie the Great Plains. Their southern part - the Interior Lowlands - is the breadbasket of Canada (75% of the country's arable land). In the western part of Canada on the Pacific coast there is one of the greatest and most beautiful mountain systems in the world - the Cordillera, stretching for 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. Within Canada, they are divided into the Rocky Mountains (in the east), the Coast Range (in the west) and the plateau that lies between them. The height of the mountains is 2000-3000 m above sea level. These relatively young mountains are also rich in mineral resources, most of which are being mined.

Economic and geographical position of Canada:

Canada occupies most of the North North America. 75% of the territory is the north zone. Canada shares a land border with the United States in the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific - in the west and the Arctic - in the north. It also shares maritime borders with France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland). Since 1925, Canada has owned part of the Arctic between 60? w.d. and 141? z.d., however, these possessions are not generally recognized.

The USA is a developed country. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of territory. The United States borders Mexico in the south and also has a maritime border with Russia. The USA has the largest economy in the world. Many natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Developed Scientific research. The service sector and competitive industry are well developed.

The country's transport system includes more than 1.1 million kilometers highways, ten major international and about three hundred regional and local airports, 72,093 kilometers of railways and more than 300 commercial seaports providing access to the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic oceans, the waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. In 2005, revenues from the country's transportation sector accounted for 4.2% of Canada's GDP - 0.5% more than revenues from oil and gas production. natural gas.

Canada can be divided into 7 physiographic regions. Arctic mountains. Much of Ellesmere Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is constrained permafrost, most of the territory is covered with ice sheets.

Laurentian (Canadian) shield. The territory of this area is characterized by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms are a legacy of the Ice Age. As the massive ice sheets retreated north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. There are thousands of lakes within this area, with Hudson Bay at the center. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers almost half of Canada (4.6 million km). The area is extremely rich in mineral resources; deposits of almost all elements of the periodic table have been found here.

Appalachian Mountains. The Maritime Provinces and the insular part of Newfoundland represent the most northern region The Appalachian system, which runs through the eastern United States into Canada. This is a mountainous area of ​​ancient rock formations.

Inland plains. Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and gently undulating terrain extends from the United States into the Steppe Provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific Coast. The Canadian Shield and Interior Plains are an area of ​​low relief that covers approximately 60% of the area of ​​Canada and the United States.

The Rocky Mountains rise sharply along the western edge of the Interior Plains. Contrasting with the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks that often exceed 3 thousand meters.

Intermountain regions. To the west lies a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific Coast. This region, extremely complex geologically, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

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

The climatic regions of Canada and Russia are very similar. In the North, the tundra region extends from the Canadian Archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ends on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. South of the tundra is a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the south, this zone reaches the northern shore of Lake Superior. South of the subarctic belt is a region of humid continental climate, extending through the southern part of the Steppe Provinces and through the Great Lakes region into the Maritime Provinces. However, everything natural areas in Canada compared to Russia (especially its European part) are shifted to the south. The point is that instead of warm Gulf Stream its eastern shores are washed by the cold Labrador Current, and the North Pole, according to scientists, in the distant past was located on the territory of what is now Canada, where the northern one still remains magnetic pole Earth. Here in much more southern latitudes than here - sometimes even in Montreal! - Can be seen northern lights. The climate in Montreal is approximately the same as in Moscow, although Montreal, like the capital, Ottawa, is located at the latitude of Simferopol. And at the latitude of Moscow in eastern Canada there is already tundra. As in Russia, approximately 70% of Canada's territory is usually classified as the Northern region.

Political-geographical position of Canada:

Canada is a federal state that occupies most of the North American mainland and numerous adjacent islands. Today Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French languages recognized as official at the federal level.

It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the United States in the south and northwest, and Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the northeast. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has emerged as a champion of diversity, working to resolve international conflicts in cooperation with other countries.

As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. There are currently 62,000 permanent military personnel in service and 26,000 in the reserves. Canadian armed forces consist of infantry troops, navy And air force. The bulk of the weapons include 1,500 infantry fighting vehicles, 34 warships and 861 aircraft.

Canada participated in the First and Second World Wars on the side of the Allies. She also participated in Korean War on the US side. Canada has been active in international missions under UN and NATO command since 1950, including peacekeeping operations, various missions in the former Yugoslavia, and supporting Coalition forces in the 1st Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had a presence in Afghanistan in partnership with US stabilization forces and NATO international forces with UN support. The emergency response team was involved in three important rescue operations following the December 2004 tsunami in South-East Asia, after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 on the American coast and after the earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005.

Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. See Appendix 2. Canada's newest administrative unit is the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999).

Provinces are states that exist under the Canadian Constitution and have the highest authority within their jurisdiction, independent of the federal government.

Canadian territories are administrative units administered by the Canadian federal Parliament, which by ordinary law grants certain powers to their local governments.

The ten modern provinces are: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Three territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

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

Topic: North America

Lesson: Canada. Socio-economic characteristics

Canada- a state in North America, it ranks second in the world in terms of area (almost 10 million sq. km) after Russia. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the USA in the south and northwest, Denmark (Greenland) in the northeast and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the east. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. In addition, Canada ranks first in the world in terms of total coastline length. The capital is Ottawa.

In terms of its level of development, the country is one of the highly developed countries in the world; it is a member of numerous organizations, including a member of the G7.

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

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

Canada is a federal state consisting of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The province with a predominant French-speaking population is Quebec, the rest are predominantly English-speaking provinces, also called " English Canada"compared to French-speaking Quebec. As one of nine predominantly English-speaking provinces, New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual Canadian province. The 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 administrative divisions of Canada ()

The population of Canada at the beginning of the year is more than 34 million people. Despite its large area, approximately 3/4 of Canada's population lives within 160 km of the US border. Canada is a relatively sparsely populated country on the globe: per 1 sq. km there are 3.4 people. Most population growth is due to immigration.

Canada is a very diverse country from an ethnic point of view. The majority of the population is English-Canadian and French-Canadian. A large proportion of 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 year (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

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

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

2. Montreal

3. Vancouver

4. Calgary

Canada is one of the richest countries in natural resources.

The country ranks 3rd in terms of forest resources (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 and lumber, and 1st place in the production of newsprint.

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

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

Rice. 4. Structure of the Canadian mining industry ()

The most important feature of Canada's mining industry is its export orientation: more than 4/5 of all mining industry products 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 United States, 25% to Western Europe and 10% for Japan.

More than 4/5 of all reserves of potassium salts of Western countries, about 2/3 of reserves of nickel and zinc, 2/5 of lead and uranium reserves, about 1/3 of reserves of iron and copper ore, titanium, and tungsten are concentrated in the depths of the country. To this list we can add quite 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 Canada. Basins and deposits of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt ores, gold, platinum, and uranium are genetically associated primarily with the Precambrian Canadian Shield, which is composed of crystalline rocks exposed to 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. St. Lawrence. In the west of the country, where there is mainly an area of ​​Mesozoic folding and the Cordillera belt passes, basins and deposits of copper, polymetallic, molybdenum, tungsten, and mercury ores are especially common. And oil, gas, and coal basins on the tectonic map of Canada should be looked for within the marginal trough of the Cordillera and smaller intermountain troughs.

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

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

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

Production in the iron and steel industry, which is in the hands of national capital, has stabilized. 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 Sidney.

In the 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 world's largest centers included Sudbury, Thompson, Sullivan, Arvida, Kitimat and Port Colborne. Most enterprises use local raw materials. Large-scale aluminum production has been created using imported raw materials.

Canada has a developed oil refining industry. The most important centers are 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. The main centers of the chemical industry are Montreal, Toronto, Niagara-Faulay.

The timber and paper industry uses the richest forest resources. Canada ranks 5th in timber harvesting and 3rd in the world in lumber and paper production (provinces: Quebec, Ontario). The country's role in the export of lumber and paper is even more significant: Canada is a world leader. 2/3 of the paper and pulp production is 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 City.

Agriculture is a highly developed sector of the Canadian economy. It is characterized by a high level of marketability, mechanization and specialization of production. About 4/5 of the area of ​​agricultural land is concentrated in large farms, 50 hectares or more in size. A significant part of farms is an integral part of large agribusiness. Agricultural products on farms are produced on the basis of contracts with enterprises of the largest monopolies Food Industry. Central Canada is distinguished primarily 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 ()

At the end of the last century, the steppe provinces began to turn into one of the leading areas of grain specialization. And currently, grain cultivation determines Canada's specialization in the global agricultural market.

Fishing is also important, developing on the basis of rich biological resources coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Inland fishing, like hunting, plays a lesser role.

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

Homework

Topic 9, P. 3

1. What are the features of Canada's geographic location?

2. Tell us about the Canadian economy.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 grades: 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: Textbook. for 10th grade educational institutions / V.P. Maksakovsky. - 13th ed. - M.: Education, JSC "Moscow Textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.

3. Atlas with set contour maps for 10th grade. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: FSUE "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., map.: color. on

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

3. Nokhrin I.M. Social and political thought of Canada and the formation of national identity (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 reference book for high school students and applicants to universities. - 2nd ed., rev. and revision - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the State Exam and the Unified State Exam

1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. 10th grade / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 80 p.

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

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Single State exam 2012. Geography: Tutorial/ Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukova. - M.: Intellect-Center, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.

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

6. Unified State Exam 2010. Geography. Collection of tasks / Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.

7. Geography tests: 10th grade: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovsky “Economic and social geography of the world. 10th grade” / E.V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.

8. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.

9. Unified State Exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for preparing students / FIPI - M.: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.

10. Unified State Exam 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks/ O.V. Chicherina, Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.

11. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Typical exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2011. - 288 p.

12. Unified State Exam 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 dimensions ( ).

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

Physico-geographical location of Canada

Based on its physical-geographical location, 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).

The lands of Canada have a complex geological structure with rocks of various ages. The young Cordilleras are located near the ancient Canadian Shield.

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. Plateau gently undulating plain.

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

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

The prairies are mostly located in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which are called the prairie provinces. The Laurentian Lowland enjoys favorable climatic conditions: a temperate climate and fertile soil. The economic center of the country is located here.

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, consisting mainly of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. On 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 Internal lowlands is the agricultural center of the country, 75% of all cultivated land. On the Pacific coast, the Cordillera stretches for 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 m above sea level.

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

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

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level. The main natural resources are nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, coal, oil, and natural gas.

Only 5% of Canada's land area is suitable for cultivation. Another 3% of the land is used for pasture. Forests and forest plantations occupy 54% of Canada's total territory. The irrigated land is only 7100 sq. km.

Economic and geographical position of Canada

Note 1

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

Its southern and northwestern land border is with the United States. In addition to land borders, Canada has maritime borders - in the northeast it borders with the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland and in 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 Arctic Ocean, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean wash it in the east, and the Pacific Ocean in the west.

It also has polar possessions in the Arctic zone, and claims to part of the continental shelf, including the 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, connecting railways, highways and airlines.

All these types of transport have 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 there.

The north and south of the country are connected mainly by air. Canada's longest highway 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.

Sea and river transport are sufficiently developed. The St. Lawrence River is the largest transport artery, and the ports located on it are mainly of the lake type.

IN central region The country has the largest airports, 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 American Great Lakes, in the area of ​​​​which there are iron ore reserves of the United States.

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

Canada is not only a member, but also a founder of NATO. It 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 side of the United States.

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

Note 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 farms. This is explained open exit 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 a hilly plain, which is limited in the west and east by mountain peaks.

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

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

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

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

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

The Appalachian Mountains of the United States continue on the Atlantic coast of Canada.

Here in the east of the country there are the Notre Dame Mountains on the right bank of the St. Lawrence, the Chicchok massif in the northern part of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Kibkid Mountains, cut through the valley of the Saint John River. The height of the mountains is no more than 700 m.

The island of Newfoundland has an altitude of 805 m. From Lake Superior to the coast of the Arctic Ocean, the vast region of the 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.

The Labrador Peninsula has bare stone hills and rocks. The elevation 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 there is a low-lying strip 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. There are lakes on it:

  • Manitoba,
  • Winnipeg,
  • Winnipegosis.

At the second stage of the plain, the Coto de Missouri plateau was formed, with a height of up to 1000 m. Closer to the southern border of the country there are forested and cypress mountains with flat tops, the height of which is 1000-1100 m.

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

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

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

The Atlantic Ocean in the southeast of the country somewhat softens the winter and at the same time brings heavy precipitation in the form of snowfall. The summer period here is longer than in other areas, but it does not get hot here. Atmosphere 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 humid, summers in the south are moderate, and summers in the north are cooler. The Rocky Mountains prevent this climate from spreading inland.

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

Natural Resources of Canada

Diverse tectonic structure and large territory provided a wealth of mineral resources.

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

Coal deposits are found in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in Alberta, in the Appalachians, and in the coastal provinces.

Iron ores occur in the Lake Superior basin and the Labrador Peninsula. There are reserves in the area of ​​Lakes Huron and Athabasca uranium ore, in the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia there are large reserves of asbestos.

The lowland areas are rich in minerals of sedimentary origin - hydrocarbons, potassium salts.

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

Coal production has increased 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.

The wealth of mineral resources allows Canada to be the largest supplier of minerals to developed capitalist countries and, above all, to the United States.

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

IN natural potential a 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 low-fertility 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 formed. Grayish soils are common in arid areas.

Canada See Appendix 1 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 landmass 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, and the US land border is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, since it is simply a mathematical point - the North Pole, where the boundaries of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast is Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west is the Pacific Ocean.

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

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

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level.

Physical-geographical location of Canada:

Physiographically, Canada is divided into five main parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast of the country), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (in the west). The territory of the country is a complex geological structure, where there are rocks of various ages. Next to the oldest geological formation, which is the Canadian Shield, there are young mountains - the Cordillera.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. This is the oldest part of the Canadian landmass, covered in the recent past by a glacier and still bearing traces of glaciation: smoothed rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain. This is the most rugged and uninhabited part of the country, but with huge mineral reserves.

From the north and south, the plateau is surrounded by large lowlands - the Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands, which represent a characteristic picture of the Canadian landscape and brought Canada the glory of a country of boundless expanses with favorable natural conditions.

In spring, the boundless expanse of steppes is covered with a green carpet, in summer - with a golden blanket, and in winter - with a white blanket. Such steppes are mainly located in the southern parts of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which is why these provinces are called steppe. The Laurentian Lowland is located in the most favorable climatic conditions - a temperate climate and fertile soils. That is why the main economic region of the country is located here.

In the southeast of the country lie the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient mountain system rich in minerals like our Urals. Their average height does not exceed 600 m. The Appalachians are covered with dense forests. To the northwest of the Appalachians is the Canadian Shield, consisting of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. From the west and south, the shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes. The Canadian Shield region is a rugged and sparsely populated part of the country.

West of the Canadian Shield lie the Great Plains. Their southern part - the Interior Lowlands - is the breadbasket of Canada (75% of the country's arable land). In the western part of Canada on the Pacific coast there is one of the greatest and most beautiful mountain systems in the world - the Cordillera, stretching for 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. Within Canada, they are divided into the Rocky Mountains (in the east), the Coast Range (in the west) and the plateau that lies between them. The height of the mountains is 2000-3000 m above sea level. These relatively young mountains are also rich in mineral resources, most of which are being mined.

Economic and geographical position of Canada:

Canada occupies most of the northern part of North America. 75% of the territory is the north zone. Canada shares a land border with the United States in the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north. It also shares maritime borders with France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland). Since 1925, Canada has owned part of the Arctic between 60? w.d. and 141? z.d., however, these possessions are not generally recognized.

The USA is a developed country. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of territory. The United States borders on Mexico in the south and also has a maritime border with Russia. The USA has the largest economy in the world. Many natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Scientific research is developed. The service sector and competitive industry are well developed.

The country's transport system includes more than 1.1 million kilometers of highways, ten major international and about three hundred regional and local airports, 72,093 kilometers of railways and more than 300 commercial seaports providing access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans , the waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. In 2005, revenue from the country's transportation sector accounted for 4.2% of Canada's GDP—0.5% more than revenue from oil and natural gas production.

Canada can be divided into 7 physiographic regions. Arctic mountains. Much of Ellesmere Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is bound by permafrost, and most of the territory is covered with ice sheets.

Laurentian (Canadian) shield. The territory of this area is characterized by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms are a legacy of the Ice Age. As the massive ice sheets retreated north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. There are thousands of lakes within this area, with Hudson Bay at the center. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers almost half of Canada (4.6 million km). The area is extremely rich in mineral resources; deposits of almost all elements of the periodic table have been found here.

Appalachian Mountains. The Maritime Provinces and the insular portion of Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian System, which runs through the eastern United States into Canada. This is a mountainous area of ​​ancient rock formations.

Inland plains. Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and gently undulating terrain extends from the United States into the Steppe Provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific Coast. The Canadian Shield and Interior Plains are an area of ​​low relief that covers approximately 60% of the area of ​​Canada and the United States.

The Rocky Mountains rise sharply along the western edge of the Interior Plains. Contrasting with the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks that often exceed 3 thousand meters.

Intermountain regions. To the west lies a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific Coast. This region, extremely complex geologically, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

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

The climatic regions of Canada and Russia are very similar. In the North, the tundra region extends from the Canadian Archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ends on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. South of the tundra is a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the south, this zone reaches the northern shore of Lake Superior. South of the subarctic belt is a region of humid continental climate, extending through the southern part of the Steppe Provinces and through the Great Lakes region into the Maritime Provinces. However, all natural zones in Canada, compared to Russia (especially its European part), are shifted to the south. The fact is that instead of the warm Gulf Stream, its eastern shores are washed by the cold Labrador Current, and the North Pole, according to scientists, in the distant past was located on the territory of what is now Canada, where the Earth’s north magnetic pole still remains. Here in much more southern latitudes than here - sometimes even in Montreal! - you can see the northern lights. The climate in Montreal is approximately the same as in Moscow, although Montreal, like the capital, Ottawa, is located at the latitude of Simferopol. And at the latitude of Moscow in eastern Canada there is already tundra. As in Russia, approximately 70% of Canada's territory is usually classified as the Northern region.

Political-geographical position of Canada:

Canada is a federal state that occupies most of the North American mainland and numerous adjacent islands. Today, Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French are recognized as official languages ​​at the federal level.

It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the United States in the south and northwest, and Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the northeast. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has emerged as a champion of diversity, working to resolve international conflicts in cooperation with other countries.

As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. There are currently 62,000 permanent military personnel in service and 26,000 in the reserves. The Canadian Armed Forces consists of infantry, navy and air force. The bulk of the weapons include 1,500 infantry fighting vehicles, 34 warships and 861 aircraft.

Canada participated in the First and Second World Wars on the side of the Allies. She also served in the Korean War on the side of the United States. Canada has been active in international missions under UN and NATO command since 1950, including peacekeeping operations, various missions in the former Yugoslavia, and supporting Coalition forces in the 1st Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had a presence in Afghanistan in partnership with US stabilization forces and NATO international forces with UN support. The Disaster Relief Team was involved in three significant rescue operations following the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the September 2005 Hurricane Katrina on the American coast, and the October 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. See Appendix 2. Canada's newest administrative unit is the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999).

Provinces are states that exist under the Canadian Constitution and have the highest authority within their jurisdiction, independent of the federal government.

Canadian territories are administrative units administered by the Canadian federal Parliament, which by ordinary law grants certain powers to their local governments.

The ten modern provinces are: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Three territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.