What is the terrain and geography like in Canada?
The world's second largest country in land area (3,851,809 square miles), Canada is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the northeast by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the U.S., and on the west by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska.
Much of Canada's industry is concentrated in the southeast near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, in an environment similar to adjacent areas of the U.S. To the northeast is the rolling Appalachian country of southern Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and the Island of Newfoundland.
Canada's most outstanding physical feature is the Shield, a rugged area of pre-Cambrian rock that surrounds Hudson Bay and covers most of eastern and central Canada--almost half the country. This semi-barren area and the Arctic Archipelago to the north are sparsely populated and, as yet, largely undeveloped.
Another distinctive major region is the Canadian Prairie, an extension of the midcontinent Great Plains. This area lies between the western border of the Shield and the Canadian Rockies. It is the Canadian breadbasket and an area that is also rich in petroleum, gas, and other mineral resources.
Far Western Canada, comprising most of British Columbia, is laced with towering mountain ranges. Most people there live on the temperate southwest coast and Vancouver Island.
Geographic Location | North America |
Total Area |
3,855,081 Square Miles 9,984,670 Square Kilometers |
Land Area |
3,511,003 Square Miles 9,093,507 Square Kilometers |
Water Area |
344,078 Square Miles 891,163 Square Kilometers |
Land Boundaries |
5,526 Miles 8,893 Kilometers |
Irrigated Land |
3,359 Square Miles 8,699 Square Kilometers |
Border Countries | US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska) |
Coastline |
125,567 Miles 202,080 Kilometers |
Geographic Coordinates | 60 00 N, 95 00 W |
Terrain | mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast |
Highest Point | 5,959 Meters |
Highest Point Location | Mount Logan 5,959 m |
Lowest Point Location | Atlantic Ocean 0 m |
Natural Resources | iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower |
Time Zone |
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Canada has six time zones |
Daylight saving time | +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November |