Canada

Landscape

Canada extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north into the Arctic. Its landscapes include mountain ranges, prairie plains, immense forests, lake country and tundra. The rocky Canadian Shield surrounds much of Hudson Bay and contains numerous lakes left by glaciation.

The Canadian Rockies form part of the mountainous west. On the Atlantic side, the Bay of Fundy is shaped by exceptionally large tides. Arctic islands and northern mainland regions add environments very different from the more densely settled southern belt.

Climate & seasons

Canada spans temperate southern regions, subarctic forests and Arctic northern areas. The Pacific coast is relatively mild, while the continental interior has much greater seasonal temperature extremes.

Scale & seasons

Latitude and distance from the ocean create major climate differences. Forest, grassland, wetland and polar habitats occur across the country. Snowmelt and river systems connect distant regions, while seasonal ice shapes many northern waters.