Canada's Geography, Provinces, & Territories
Canada’s geography is diverse and varies significantly from province to province. It is an expansive country, covering 3.8 million square miles, making it the second largest country in the world after Russia. It is known for its wide range of geographic landmarks with coasts on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans.
Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories. Canada’s provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Their territories include the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon.
The Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick are located in the eastern part of Canada. This region is characterized by a rugged coastline, numerous islands, and a maritime climate with a strong connection to the Atlantic Ocean.
Gros Morne National Park, located in Newfoundland and Labrador, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its impressive fjords, cliffs, and other geological features.
Fishing and seafood industries are prominent in these provinces, with the major cities including Halifax and St. John’s. The Bay of Fundy, situated between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, is known for having the highest tidal range in the world.
Quebec is the largest province by land area and is located in Eastern Canada. The province features a diverse geography including the Laurentian Mountains in the south, the boreal forest in the north, and the St. Lawrence River, which flows through the province.
Montreal is the most populous city in Quebec, but the province’s capital is Quebec City. The city is the site of a UNESCO World Heritage site as it is North America's only fortified city north of Mexico. Although the official language of Canada is English, French is the official language of Quebec, and is spoken throughout Canada.
Also in Eastern Canada is the province of Ontario. It is home to four of the Great Lakes; Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior as well as Niagara Falls. The province features a mix of urban and rural regions, with fertile farmland in the south and the rugged terrain of the Canadian Shield in the north. Ontario is also Canada’s most populous province with its capital city of Toronto being the country’s most populous city. Ontario is also home to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa.
The Prairie provinces include Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and are located in the central part of Canada. This region of Canada is also known as the “Breadbasket of Canada” because its flat fertile plains make the area prime for agricultural production.
The Canadian Rockies extend into Alberta, home of Lake Louise, the country’s highest permanent settlement in terms of elevation. Alberta’s capital and largest city is Edmonton and is home to the Edmonton-Calgary Metropolitan Region, which is a strong economic, energy, and technology hub. Manitoba is home to over 100,000 lakes and its capital Winnipeg is known as Canada’s “Gateway of the West.”
British Columbia is located on the west coast of Canada and is known for its rugged coastline, the temperate rainforests of the Great Bear Rainforest, and the Rocky Mountains in the east.
The province is characterized by a diverse geography that includes fertile valleys, coastal inlets, and mountainous terrain. Vancouver Island, off the southwest coast of British Columbia, is known for its lush forests, rugged coastline, and diverse wildlife.
British Columbia’s capital city of Victoria is located at the southern tip of the island. The city of Vancouver, the province’s largest city, is located on mainland British Columbia on the Pacific Ocean and is known as “Hollywood North” for its television and film industry.
The northern territories of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are sparsely populated and cover the vast northern expanse of Canada. These territories feature Arctic tundra, extensive wilderness, and numerous lakes and rivers. The Northwest Territories is home to the Nahanni National Park Reserve, known for its deep canyons and hot springs.
The Yukon territory became famous for the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century as people flocked to the area in search of riches. The Yukon Highway is a major transportation route that helps connect Alaska through Canada to the contiguous United States. Nunavut was created as a territory in 1999, making it the newest and largest of Canada’s territories. This territory is home to many Inuit communities.
Canada’s geography is incredibly diverse, with each province and territory containing unique landscapes, climates, and cultural differences. This diversity plays a significant role in shaping the lifestyle, economy, and culture of each region and understanding these differences is key in being able to meet the needs of the country’s people and environment.