Exploring British Columbia: Physical Characteristics and Outdoor Adventures

1. Ch. 6.1 –Physical Canada

3. Warm-up #1

4. Warm-up #2 Link to BC video What are some of the physical characteristics of British Columbia? Taking a flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, what kinds of landscapes could you see? What activities do you think might be included in “outdoor adventure and ecotourism”?

5. Answers to #2 • 1. Much of British Columbia is mountainous. 60% of the area is forested. 5% of the area is arable. British • Columbia also contains many lakes, rivers, and many miles of coastline. • 2. One could see desert canyons, snow-capped mountains, forests, lakes, and flatlands. • 3. Answers will vary but may include horseback riding, snow skiing, hiking, cycling, and boating

6. Physical Geography of Canada Landforms • Canada’s mountainous are on the eastern and western edges with a central region of plainsthat have fertile soil. • Collisions of tectonic plates thrust up a series of sharp-peaked mountains, like the Pacific Ranges and Rockies. • A wide range of climates, from frozen tundra to humid continental, support a variety of wildlife. • Abundant water and energy resources make up Canada’s great natural resource wealth.

7. Landforms • Canada’s mountainous are on the eastern and western edges with a central region of plains that have fertile soil.

9. Collisions of tectonic plates thrust up a series of sharp-peaked mountains, like the Pacific Ranges and Rockies.

10. Canada’s Interior Plains- shaped by glacial activity and great for agriculture.

11. A wide range of climates, from frozen tundra to humid continental, support a variety of wildlife.

12. Abundant water and energy resources make up Canada’s great natural resource wealth.

15. Physical Geography of Canada Water Systems • Canada's plentiful freshwater lakes and rivers support the needs of people and industries in both cities and rural areas. • The St. Lawrence River is one of Canada's most important rivers and forms part of the border between the United States and Canada. • The Niagara Falls, also on the border, is a key source of hydroelectric power.

16. Canada's plentiful freshwater lakes and rivers support the needs of people and industries in both cities and rural areas.

17. Physical Geography of Canada • Water Systems • The St. Lawrence River -1of Canada's most important rivers & forms part of the border b/w the US & Canada.

18. More than 4,000 ships travel the St. Lawrence Seaway into and out of the Great Lakes each year carrying nearly 45 million tons of cargo.

20. The Niagara Falls, also on the border, is a key source of hydroelectric power. http://www.travelchannel.com/videos/niagara-falls-0182876

22. Glacial Dams created the Great Bear Lake and the Great Slave Lake

23. Great Bear Lake

28. Physical Geography of Canada Climate, Biomes, and Resources • Ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current, play a key role in Canada’s large variation in climates. • Canada has a variety of biomes that support abundant forms of plant and animal life. • Fisheries as well as timber, energy, and minerals are important to Canada’s economy. • The Athabasca Tar Sands make Canada a leading petroleum-producing country.

29. Physical Geography of Canada • Climate, Biomes, and Resources • Ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current, play a key role in Canada’s large variation in climates.

30. Fisheries as well as timber, energy, and minerals are important to Canada's economy.

31. Canada has a variety of biomes that support abundant forms of plant and animal life.

33. The Athabasca Tar Sands make Canada a leading petroleum-producing country

36. Humid Continental Humid Oceanic Highland Subarctic Tundra