Canadian Shield Geography

Canadian Shield

Relative Size/Location
This region occupies over 50% of canada’s total land area (approximately 4, 800,000km2), making up parts of 6 provinces and 2 territories. The Canadian Shield is the largest landform region in Canada.

Physical Landscape
The Canadian Shield is made up of metamorphic and igneous rock, containing some of the world's oldest rocks. It had once been a major mountain region but it is now relatively flat with rounded rock hills. In addition, hundreds of thousands of lakes existed as gouging and scrapings of ice many years ago which had left depression in the bedrock. The Canadian Shield lakes are often crystal clear due to the granite on the bottom.

Major Cities
Some major cities located within the Canadian
The area is composed of extremely tall mountains that can measure over 2500 m in height.

Physical Landscape
The Innuitian Mountains are comprised of igneous and metamorphic rock with some areas of sedimentary bedrock. It’s a mountainous region (covered in snow), especially along the eastern rim and the islands consist of uplands, plains, and hills. The Innuitian Mountains are surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, the Baffin Bay and Parry Channel.

Major Cities
Three major cities in the Innuitian Mountains include Pond Inlet; located in the north, Clyde River; located in the Baffin Islands, and Broughton Islands; the biggest island.

Occupations/Industries
There are five industries of the Innuitian Mountains are fishing, mining, fur trading, hunting, and whaling. However, the industries are not very successful due to the region's remote location which makes development too costly when less expensive alternatives exist elsewhere in Canada or in other countries.

Relative Population
Due to the region’s unrelenting climate and little exploration, the population is very low. The total population of the region is approximately under
The Rocky Mountains are located along the east side of the Western Cordillera. They were formed by folding and faulting sedimentary rock. The area also contains many fossils. The Columbia Mountains are composed of mainly sedimentary rock with some intrusives of metamorphic rock. In addition, it too is located along the east of the Western Cordillera. The Interior Plateau consists of rugged plateaus divided by deep river valleys composed of metamorphic and igneous rock. It is located in the centre of the Western Cordillera. Lastly, the Coast Mountain Region is composed of igneous and metamorphic rock and it is found along the western side of the Western