Ontario UVM English 5 Blog About Ontario Main Ontario geography What is Ontario? Geography of Canada's (Perhaps North America's future) Heartland According to Thomas Courchene, one of Canada's foremost economists, Ontario has evolved into one of North America's leading economic regions, and may become the new heartland of North America. So what makes Ontario so special? Geography, beit Physical, Political, or Economic, is perhaps the primary rationale behind this bold statement, and so is the focus of this week's post. -Ontario: The Alpha Province As of 2000, Ontario accounted for
*38% of Canada's total population
*41% of Canada's Gross-Domestic Product (GDP) -Physical Geography *Ontario, a name derived from the native word "Ontariio" or "Kanadario" (roughly translated as "beautiful" or "sparkling" water) is bigger
than most countries, stretchin over 1 million square kilometers. *Ontario has 3 main physiographic regions
-Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands>flat and rolling landscapes, reflects the underlying sedimentary rock. The St. Lawrence Lowlands subregion shaped by the Champlain Sea, which receded 10,000 years ago, leaving behind mineral deposits that make the land very fertile and agrable.The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands region form Ontario's southern boundary with the United States, Manitoba lies to the West, Hudson/James Bays lie to the north, and Quebec to the east
-Canadian Shield> result of solidification of molten rock 3 billion years ago. Landscape altered by the glacial erosion caused by the movement of ice sheets during an ice age 18,000 years ago. Since it is essentially solid rock, is not desirable in terms of agriculture. Climate, soils, and physiography combine to limit agriculture. However, the region does have a vast forest, superb scenery(hello, tourists), and vast mineral wealth. Encompasses most of Ontario between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. | |
|
