Physical Geography Map

Geologic Time

Geologic Time

Era's

Precambrian

Began 4600 million years ago and ended 570 million years ago

It lasted 4.6 billion years, and took up 87.6% of geologic time

Geological Events

Canadian Shield, Brazilian Shield, and the Australian Shield were all formed.

Biological Events

The first multi celled and single celled organisms were formed on earth.

Paleozic

Began 570 million years ago and ended million years ago

It lasted 325 million years, and took up 7.06% of geologic time

Geological Events

Large parts of North America were covered by shallow seas.

Also the Appalachian Mountains were formed.

Biological Events

This was the age of amphibians and fish...

...the first insects

...and the first plants and animals

There were lots of large swamps...

Coal formed from this vegetation.

Mesozoic

Began 245 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago

It lasted 180 million years, and took up 3.89% of geologic time

Geological Events

The Rocky Mountains were formed. Along with the Innuitian Mountains.

At this point in time, there were still shallow seas in the interior of North America.

Biological Events

This was the age of reptiles (dinosaurs)...

...the first flowers

...and the first birds

Cenozoic

Began 66 million years ago and hasn't ended

It has been about 66 million years, and it has taken up about 1.43% of geologic time.

Geological Events

Ice sheets cover some of North America.

Biological Events

This is the age of mammals...

... Humans started to(and now are) develop

Soil

Soil

True Soil

To make true soil you need all 4 of these...

Minerals

Air

Moisture

Bacteria (Organic)

Top Soil

The top most layer of soil

Humus

"Nutrient rich" soil made up of compost

"Nutrient rich" soil made up of compost

Leaching

Is when all of the "left over" precipitation sinks down below the surface and holds moisture for all of the bigger plants.

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Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Sedimentary

Clastic

Conglomerate

Breccia

Sandstone

Sandstone

Slitstone

Mudstone

Shale

Chemical

limestone

limestone

Qolostone

Evaporites

Biological

Coal

Chert

Chert

Igneous

Intrusive

Gabbo

Diorite

Gandorite

Gandorite

Granite

Extrusive

Basalt

Basalt

Andesite

Dacite

Rhyolite

Metamorphic

Foliated

Slate

Slate

Schist

Gneiss

Non-Foliated

Quartzite

Marble

Marble

Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics

Who?

Alfred Wegener, a German scientist back in the early 1900's,
(1905-1930) born in 1880, died in 1930, came up with the original theory about plate tectonics.

Theories?

Alfred Wegener thought that all of the countries used to be connected.

1. All of the countries fit together like puzzle pieces

2. There is fossil remains of different plants and animals in the wrong countries they are supposed to be in

3. Mountain ranges (in different countries) fit together as if connected a long time ago

What?

There are about 20 different tectonic plates on earth.

There is both land and water on very thick layers of molten rock. (700 kilometres beneath earth's crust)

Where?

The plates move along special boundaries

Divergent

Move away

Convergent

Move toward one another

Transform

Slide past

Pangea

Pangea was the last super continent the world had and it broke apart 50-200 million years ago.

Scientist at Yale believe that the next super continent will be formed in the next few hundred years.

They also believe that the plates are moving because of magnetic forces that are pushing and pulling them together

Climate

Climate

Factors that influence climate

Latitude

Extends from a great distance - distance away from the equator,means more or less sunlight, means different temperature.

Ocean Currents

Water takes longer to heat up and cool down - changes temperature on land.

Wind

Westerlies and eastward winds - colder where wind is blowing.

Elevation and Relief

Refers to elevation of earths surface - farther up you go the colder it gets - because the atoms in the air are farther spread apart.

The difference between weather and climate

Weather= mixture of precipitation, cloud cover, and winds

Climate= average precipitation and weather conditions

Natural Vegetation

Natural Vegetation

Natural Vegitation

Natural Vegitation

Is when humans do nothing to help the vegetation

Picking, Planting, Trimming, Watering, Fertiliser, etc...

NO:

Trees

Deciduous

Trees with leaves

Trees with leaves

Coniferous

Trees with needles

Trees with needles

Better able to handle harsh conditions

Land Form Regions

Land Form Regions

Canadian Shield

Canadian Shield

General Appearance

Fairly Flat

Rocky

National Park

Pukaskwa

Outstanding Natural Features

"Dotted" with lakes and rivers.

Multiple spots with exposed granite.

Activities

Canoeing and Kayaking

Portaging

Backpacking

Suspension Bridge

Interior Plains

Interior Plains

General Appearance

Fairly Flat

Some Small Hills

National Park

Riding Mountains

Outstanding Natural Features

Escarpment

Lakes with islands and beaches.

Activities

Swimming

Camping

Horseback Riding

Great Lakes/ St.Laurence Lowlands

Great Lakes/ St.Laurence Lowlands

General Appearance

Flat Plains

Rolling Hills

Glacial Hills

Deep Valleys

abundance of water

Natural Park

Point Pelee

Outstanding Natural Features

Very Small

Part of lake Erie

Composed of large marsh

Activities

Butterfly and Bird watching

Swimming/Skating

Canoeing/Kayaking

Arctic Lowlands

Arctic Lowlands

General Appearance

Somewhat flat/Some hills

Surrounded by water

National Park

Wapusk

Outstanding Natural Features

Subarctic Climate

Large marsh area

Activities

Polar bear watching

Snowshoeing

Appalachians

Appalachians

General Appearance

Rounded Mountains

and hills

Wide glacial hills

Long bays

National Park

Cape Breton Highlands

Outstanding Natural Features

All three types of rocks are visible

Mountains "rolling" into the sea

Activities

Camping

Seal and whale watching

Innuitian

Innuitian

General Appearance

Mountains surrounded by water

Covered by glacial Ice

National Park

Ellesmere Island

Outstanding Natural Features

Covered in frost

"Frozen Desert"

Ice is over 100 00 years old

Very big

60x The size of Toronto

Activities

Backpacking

geo and eco studies

Extreme sports

Western Cordillia

Western Cordillia

General Appearance

Mountains

Sharp, ridged, and pointy

Some valleys

National Park

Banff

Outstanding Natural Features

Oldest national park

Hot springs

Rockies

Activities

Ski

Snowboard

Mountain biking

Rock Climbing

J. Tuzo Wilson is a Canadian scientist who
studies the theory on Plate Tectonics, using modern day technology.

Connections

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