Canadian Geography Exam Study Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering Physical Geography, Climate, Human Geography, and Natural Resources based on the Canadian Geography study notes.

Igneous Rock

Forms when magma or lava cools and hardens; can form above or below Earth’s surface.

Sedimentary Rock

Forms when sediments are compressed and cemented together, usually in layers and often containing fossils.

Metamorphic Rock

Forms when existing rocks are changed by extreme heat and pressure without melting.

Tectonic Plates

Large pieces of Earth’s crust that slowly move on the mantle, changing Earth’s surface through their movement.

Convergent Boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other, creating mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Divergent Boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move apart, creating new crust.

Transform Boundary

A plate boundary where plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

Canadian Shield

The oldest landform region in Canada, made of exposed Precambrian rock with rocky terrain, many lakes, and rich mineral deposits.

Western Cordillera

A young mountain region in Western Canada that includes the Rocky Mountains and Coast Mountains.

Interior Plains

A region of flat land created by sediment deposits, known for rich farmland and energy resources like oil and natural gas.

Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands

Canada’s most populated region, characterized by flat, fertile land in Southern Ontario and Quebec.

Appalachian Mountains

Old mountains in Eastern Canada that have been worn down by erosion over time.

Hudson Bay Lowlands

A very flat landform region around Hudson Bay consisting of wetlands and swamps with poor farming conditions.

Arctic Lands

A region in Northern Canada characterized by a cold climate, permafrost, and tundra vegetation.

Permafrost

Permanently frozen ground found in the Arctic Lands region.

Latitude

The distance north or south from the equator; higher latitude results in colder temperatures.

Altitude

The height above sea level; higher elevations have colder temperatures.

Proximity to Water

A climate factor based on the fact that water heats and cools slowly, providing coastal areas with milder temperatures.

Surface Currents

Ocean currents that move heat around the planet, making climates warmer or cooler depending on the current's temperature.

Climate Graph

A graph used to show temperature (usually a line) and precipitation (usually bars) for a specific location.

Census

A government count of the population that happens every 5 years in Canada to collect data on age, language, and housing.

Demography

The study of population changes, including birth rates, death rates, migration, and age structure.

Immigrant

A person who moves into a new country permanently.

Emigrant

A person who leaves their country to live elsewhere.

Refugee

A person forced to leave their home because of war, violence, natural disasters, or persecution.

Push Factors

Conditions that force people away from a location, such as war, poverty, or unemployment.

Pull Factors

Conditions that attract people to a new location, such as safety, jobs, or better quality of life.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can naturally replace themselves, such as solar energy, wind energy, and forests.

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that take millions of years to form and have a limited supply, such as oil, natural gas, and minerals.

Clear Cutting

A logging method involving the removal of all trees in an area, which is cheap and efficient but causes habitat destruction.

Selective Cutting

A logging method involving the removal of only certain trees to protect forests and reduce environmental damage.

Sustainable Development

The practice of using resources today while protecting them for the use of future generations.