Canada has six main geographic regions - Atlantic Canada, Eastern Canada, the Prairie Provinces, the Rocky Mountain Region, the Pacific Coast, and the Arctic Region. Each region has distinct physical features, natural resources, and industries. The most populated regions are Eastern Canada, where the majority of Canadians live in cities like Toronto and Montreal, and the Prairie Provinces, which serve as the main agricultural area of Canada. Fishing, mining, logging, and oil production are important industries across the different regions. Overfishing has negatively impacted fish populations in some coastal areas.

1. Canada’s Six Geographic
Regions
Unit 5 Notes

2. Physical Characteristics
 Stretches from Atlantic to Pacific and
bordered to the north by Arctic Ocean
and to the south by the United States.
 Most of the 30 million people live in:
Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec;
Vancouver, British Columbia; and
Ottawa, Ontario.
 Most of the population lives within 200
miles of the US/Canada border because
of the warmer climate
 Physical Features: mountains, prairies,
islands, tundra, lakes, and rivers.
Ottawa, Ontario

3. Natural Resources
 Minerals: Large exporter of
minerals.
 Forests: Makes up 1/3 of Canada.
Provides lumber, pulp, and paper.
 Fish: Fisheries in Atlantic and
Pacific.
 Lakes and Rivers: Produce
hydroelectric power.
 Soil: Canada has excellent
farmland.

4. 1. Atlantic Canada
 Made up of Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick, and Price
Edward Island.
 Also called Maritime Provinces.
 Fishing is important here, but
overfishing has caused problems.
 Overfishing occurs when too many
fish are caught that there are not
enough to breed more.

5. 2. Eastern Canada
 Includes provinces of Quebec
and Ontario.
 Great Lakes, St. Lawrence
River, and Hudson Bay are in
this region.
 Most people live in this area--big
cities.
 The St. Lawrence Seaway
has made Eastern Canada
home to manufacturing
companies.

6. 3. Prairie Provinces
 Includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and
eastern Alberta.
 Great for farming! (Almost all Canada’s
agriculture happens here)
 Biggest petroleum (oil) producer in Canada.

7. 4. Rocky Mountain Region
 Made up of western Alberta and eastern
British Columbia.
 Mining is the biggest industry in this region
(coal, gold, iron ore, silver).

8. 5. Pacific Coast
 Located between the Rocky Mountains and Gulf
of Alaska in British Columbia.
 The nice weather brings people to Vancouver,
Canada’s third largest city.
 Timber (logging), fishing, and mining are
important industries.
 Overfishing has caused the fish population to decline.

9. 6. Arctic Region
 Includes Canada’s three territories: Yukon,
the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
 Most of Canada’s Inuit (indigenous people)
live in this region.
 Tundra – land stays frozen all year.
 Covered by the Canadian Shield, which
makes mining a HUGE industry (coal, gold,
silver, iron ore).

10. 6. Arctic Region
 Includes Canada’s three territories: Yukon,
the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
 Most of Canada’s Inuit (indigenous people)
live in this region.
 Tundra – land stays frozen all year.
 Covered by the Canadian Shield, which
makes mining a HUGE industry (coal, gold,
silver, iron ore).