Plate Tectonics
These are giant puzzle pieces of the Earth's crust that move very slowly
Tectonic Plates
These massive "rivers of ice" covered Canada 15,000 years ago.
Glaciers
This region is the rocky "core" of Canada and is full of minerals.
Canadian Shield
Most Canadians live in the Lowlands because the land is __________ and easy to build on.
Flat
This "passage" is a sea route that goes through which ocean at the very top of Canada?
Artic Ocean
When plates crash together, it is called a "Convergent" boundary. What do they usually build?
Mountains
Glaciers act like this common workshop tool, scraping the surface of the Earth.
Sandpaper
These are the flat areas of Canada with deep soil, perfect for farming.
Lowlands (Interior Plains)
Why don't people farm in the middle of the Canadian Shield?
Because it is too rocky (or no soil)
For hundreds of years, this route was blocked by thick "multi-year" ice. Now, because of global warming, the ice is doing what?
Melting (or retreating)
This type of mountain is tall and jagged because it hasn't been worn down yet.
Young Fold Mountains (like the Rockies)
Instead of a narrow "V" shape made by rivers, glaciers carve out valleys shaped like this letter.
Letter U
Most of Canada's metal mines (gold, nickel) are found in this rugged region.
Canadian Shield
This "frozen highway" in the Arctic is melting, creating a shortcut for ships.
Northwest Passage
Using the Northwest Passage as a shortcut can save ships about 7,000 kilometers compared to using this famous canal in Central America.
Panama Canal
Canada’s West Coast is at risk for a "Megathrust" earthquake. This happens because the oceanic plate is sliding underneath the North American plate. What is the scientific name for one plate sliding under another?
Subduction
When a glacier gets smaller and melts back, it is called a glacial _______________.
Retreat
These high, jagged regions in BC and Alberta are great for tourism and skiing.
Western Cordillera
Critical Thinking: Name one animal that is losing its hunting ground because the Arctic ice is melting.
Polar Bear
The "Double-Edged Sword": While melting ice makes shipping easier, it makes life much more dangerous for this Indigenous group that has lived in the Arctic for thousands of years.
Inuit
The Appalachian Mountains in Eastern Canada are much shorter and rounder than the Rocky Mountains in the West. Based on what we know about "folding," why are they so different?
Because they are older
When the 3km-thick Laurentide ice sheet sat on top of Ontario, it was so heavy that it actually pushed the Earth's crust down. Now that the ice is gone, the land is slowly "springing" back up. What is this "bouncing back" called?
Isostatic Rebound
Name the specific landform region that was created by the "leftovers" of the Ice Age—specifically the deep, fertile silt left at the bottom of ancient glacial lakes.
Interior Plains or Lowlands
We learned that the Northwest Passage is melting. While this is good for ships, it is bad for the environment. Explain the "Albedo Effect"—why does replacing white ice with dark blue ocean water make the Arctic get even hotter?
Because dark water absorbs heat while white ice reflects it.
The Ownership Battle: Canada claims these waters belong to us (Internal Waters), but the United States and other countries argue it is an "International Strait." What is the word for a country's right to control its own territory?
Sovereignty