Geography 2010A course notes 2021/2022 PDF

Preview

Summary

Geo Lecture Notes Chapters one to five and everything related to them and the course for these chapters...

Description

Week 1: Introduction and Regional Geography - The study of Regional Geography o Living in a common space inevitably leads to the formation of a regional identity. o This is the product of a region’s physical geography, historical events and economic situations o People place their imprint on landscapes just as landscapes influence people’s live and activities o Regional differences will be examined in this course through the detailed study of each of Canada’s 6 regions. - Regional Identity o A multitude of profound and often repeated extreme experiences mark people in particular region, requiring them to respond. In return their responses help create a common sense of regional belonging, consciousness, and common identity - Region o A distinctive area of Earth’s surface. It has distinguishing human or natural characteristics that set it apart from other areas. - Regionalism o The division of countries or areas of the earth into different natural/political/natural parts. o The division of a large area into different parts with varying characteristics o Some countries are more prone to regionalism than others o Canada is very prone to regionalism o Big countries have more regionalism - Regionalism in Canada o Vast geographic size and varied physical geography o Different patterns of historic settlement o Different culture and languages (Quebec) o Uneven population distribution o The British north America act of 1867 gave considerable power to the provinces - Regional Geography o the study of the geography of regions and the interplay between physical and human geography. - Defining Canada regions o Choose a province or a group of provinces o Describe the area analyze the economy study the demographics understand the physical geography - Uniform Region o A territory with one or more features present throughout and absent or unimportant elsewhere. o A uniform region may represent some characterization of the total environment of an area, including both its physical and cultural features.  Ex. Vegetation o It is named after a characteristic where all location in the regions have similarities in that particular characteristic

Functional Region o A territorial unit resulting from the organisation of social and. economic relations in that its boundaries do not reflect geographical particularities. or historical events.  Ex. Transportation network  Major roads and highways in the Manitoba tens to branch out from Winnipeg which is by far the largest city in the region o There are interactions among the different areas within the region (eg urban parts of the region and the surrounding rural areas) - Culture Region o These areas are based on a sense of belonging. There is a bond between people and the region  Ex. Africa o It arises from shared historical experiences similar values and common goals  Francophones in quebec - Faultlines o Are metaphors applied to economic, social, and political ‘cracks’ that divide regions and threaten to destabilize Canada’s integrity as a nation. o There are not physical lines; instead they are difference between 2 different areas whether it be geographical culters ,etc o There are 4 faultlines that have played a role in Canada’s historic evolution and have had profound regional consequences.  Centralist vs. Decentralist Visions of Canada  English speaking and French speaking Canadians  Indigenous Peoples and the Non-Indigenous Majority  Newcomers and Old-Timers 1. Centralist vs. Decentralist Visions of Canada o This Faultline relates to Canada’s political system and refers to the centralization versus decentralization of government powers. o Dispute between provinces or between a province ant the federal government are examples o Equalization payments from the federal government to the provinces are a common sources of feuds o Demography favours Ontario and Quebec because the majority of Canadians reside in these areas. o People in the other regions have perceived the federal government as a favouring Ontario and Quebec o No federal political part can form a majority government without strong support from these 2 regions o Previous federal governments led by Stephen Harper saw the growth of the energy sector as being in the national interest. o The current federal government led by Justin Trudeau has an opposite potion and favours a carbon tax o This dramatic shift in philosophy toward energy has resulted in great disputes between some provinces and the federal government. -

2. English speaking and French speaking Canadians o French is the sole official language in Quebec but there is a political and cultural struggle to maintain French as a viable language in a principally English-speaking continent. o The proportion of French speaking Canadians has declined o Within Quebec itself an internal Faultline exists between seperlist and federalist 3. Indigenous Peoples and the Non-Indigenous Majority o There are 3 major groups of Indigenous Peoples in Canada: First Nations, Inuit, and Metis o A higher proportion of Indigenous communities remain heavily dependent on the federal government relative to other communities. o Extreme poverty unemployment and social issues are common in some of these communities particularly on reserves o Indigenous residential schools of the past were designed to assimilate youth and to discourage Indigenous language use. o Modern land claim agreements have led to Indigenous self-government on reserves. o Nunavut was created in1999 as a territory with a goal of allowing the Inuit people there to govern themselves it is predominately populated by Inuit (over 80% of the population) o Table 1.3 western Canada (important) 4. Newcomers and Old-Timers o Canada is a country of immigrants, and this can sometimes lead to cultural friction among different ethnic groups o Many new immigrants are concentrated in major cities; this gives them a network of family and friends who speak their language and restaurants that serve their desired food. However, it may create a sense of isolation from other Canadians, particularly those living in small towns or rural areas. - Linking Canada’s Regions o Due to Canada’s vast size, linking the regions through transportation routes has been a challenge but has always been a major objective of the federal government.  Ex.  Transcontinental railways (CP and CN)  The Trans-Canada Highway  The Great Trail - Transcontinental railways (CP and CN) o The Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway was completed in 1885 and was influential in the development of Western Canada. o It terminus in Vancouver fulfilled a promise from federal government to British Columbia when that province entered confederation in 1817 o The Canadian National (CN) Railway was incorporated in 1919 and today is Canada’s largest railway both in terms of revenue and physical size spanning from Halifax to Prince Rupert, B.C. - The Trans-Canada Highway

-

o The highway opened in 1962 and links all 10 provinces. The main branch is one of the longest highways in the world (7821 km). o Highway maintenance and route numbering are not under federal jurisdiction (transportation is provincial responsibility) The Great Trail o This is a system of greenways, waterways, and roadways linking coast to coast to coast; 80% of Canadians live within 30 minutes of the trail o After 25 years of planning, it was commemorated in 2017 on the 150th anniversary of Canada

Current issues in Canada - Racism - Xenophobia - Homophobia - Pandemic relief - Climate change - Aging population and health care cost - Poverty on indigenous reserves - Western alienation (election issue) - Housing cost - Aging infrastructure - Equalization payments to provinces - Air quality - Natural disasters - Artic sovereignty (who owns the artic) - Urban sprawl - Inaccessibility of the north - Opioid use - Economic disparity among regions Week 2: Regions of Canada; physical geography - Sense of place o A sense of place involves a psychological bond that people have for the area where they were born and raised or for where they currently live. o It arises from the physical landscape of the area, economic activities, and institutional bodies. o Place is the most powerful determinant of a person’s life chances, experiences, and opportunities. o A strong sense of place leads it regional consciousness (the willingness to advocate for regional interests). o Each Canadian region has both a sense of place and regional pride as well a commitment to federalism. o Collective experiences among people in a region has led to shared aspirations, goals, and values.

-

-

-

-

o A sense of place within a specific city protects against the current phenomena of economic and cultural globalization o Distinctive cityscapes provide an identity that evokes a psychological bond between people and the location. The 6 Regions of Canada o Why have these areas been defined as regions? 1. They are manageable sections in a balanced size. 2. They are identifiable by a set of physical features, natural resources, and economic strengths. 3. The breakdown is on a provincial basis making it easy to study statistical census data 4. The are linked to regional identity and sometimes associated with regional disputes Characteristics of the 6 Regions o Add up the population of Canadian total and you get 62% o Also the territories only 0.3% Proportion of Regional Population o Focus on Quebec it has dropped o Fewer people are speaking French o Look at BC the growth for 1817 to 2016 The Core/Periphery Theory o This is a model that describes interaction among regions that is evident in Canada. o It is also referred to as the heartland/hinterland theory o It is based on the idea that capitalist economies result in regionally uneven development o This theory states that both parts are dependent on each other but the core (the industrial heartland) dominates the economic relationship with the periphery (the resource hinterland). o In Canada, the core is considered to be southern Ontario and southern Quebec. All other areas in the country make up the periphery o B.C. and the Prairie Provinces are considered to be upward transitional peripheries. The Atlantic Provinces are a downward transitional periphery. The Territorial North is a resource frontier periphery. o In general, as one travels from a core toward a periphery there are typically noticeable trends: o Both total populations and population density decreases o Median income decreases o Unemployment rate increases o There are two contrasting ways that cores and peripheries interact: 1. Regional Exploitation  The economically wealthy core exploits the natural wealth of the periphery leaving it impoverished 2. Modernization



-

-

-

-

-

-

The core invests in the periphery and helps it to develop economically. 1. Wealthy provinces help the poverty ones Characteristics of Cores o Receives raw materials from the periphery o Manufacturing is a common industry o Geographically small o Diverse economy o Urban and densely populated o Home to corporate headquarters Characteristics of Peripheries o Purchases manufactured goods from the core o Geographically large o Resource based economy o Rural and sparsely populated Sub-Cores in Canada o A sub-core has similar characteristics to a core but at a much smaller scale o There is evidence of sub-cores existing within Canada’s peripheries:  Vancouver/Victoria  Edmonton/Calgary  Halifax The Staples Thesis o This is a proposed explanation of how and why Canada’s economy has grown changed since confederation o What is a ‘Staple’ product?  A natural resource that can be exploited relatively quickly and cheaply for profit o The regional economic history if Canada was linked to the discovery, utilization, and export of staple resources in Canada’s peripheral regions. o Eventually, economics diversification occurred thus making peripheral regions less reliant on natural resources o The thesis was proposed by Harold innis in the early 1930s o The Atlantic provinces regions was the first region to be settled and in its early history it was a periphery for England. o Through Canada’s history there has been an east to west progression of the most important economic staples Progression of Canada’s Staples o Lumber (Progressing from the east to the west)  This was the earliest staple product. o Fur (Progressing form the east to the west) o Fish (east) o Agriculture (progressing from Ontario to the west) o Oil (west) Economic Linkages for Growth

-

-

-

-

o Three types of economic linkages are necessary for economic growth and job creation: o Backward linkage: Supplies for the staple industry (e.g. saws and tools for the lumber industry). o Forward linkage:  Local processing before export (e.g. squaring lumber before shipment) o Final demand linkage:  Servicing the needs of workers and families (general stores, school, etc) The National Policy o The National Policy (1879) contributed to the development of the core in Canada. o This policy created a nationwide market for Canadian-made goods. o How?  Through the implementation of tariffs and restrictions of trade on foreign -made goods. o The policy had several implications: o It increased the prove of goods from the U.S which would have otherwise been cheaper to purchases o it favoured economic and manufacturing growth in Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec since this is where transportation costs were minimized o it had a negative impact in Western Canada because they were purchasing expensive Canadian-made goods from the core but were exporting wheat and grain to the U.S. at low prices since the U.S. had its own tariffs The Canada – U.S. Free Trade Agreement o The agreement was signed in 1988. o It helped peripheries by providing cheaper products to purchase and also providing a larger market for their staple products. o Many large companies began to integrate by operating factories in one location only (as opposed to having one factory in each country) o It was superseded by NAFTA in 1994 when Mexico joined, and was then superseded by CUSMA in 2020 The Thickening Canada – U.S. Border o This has been an ongoing concern since Sep. 11, 2001. o Auto manufacturing assembly plants in Southern Ontario need quick and easy access to the U.S. market. o Before 2001, Canadian citizens were not required to show passports when entering the U.S. (or vice versa) o The change in identification requirements at the border led to a decline in the tourism industry in border cities (Niagara Falls, Windsor, Sarnia). o The U.S. federal government favours a North America security perimeter that includes a common position by on immigration, military, and trade policies. o A continental perimeter is thought to potentially reduce the threat of terrorist attacks Canada in the Global World

-

-

-

o There is a core/periphery on a global scale where North America and Western Europe make up the global core. o A sub-core is evident in Asia (China, South Korea, Japan) where there is rapid economic growth. o Diversification of trade Is a to priority for Canada in order to take advantage of the growth in Asia o Despite this, the U.S will likely always remain Canada’s principle market. Physical Geography o Definition:  The study of earth’s natural features o Canada’s physical geography will be studied in this course through 5 different categories:  Geologic elements  Physiography  Climate  Vegetation  soil o Canada’s physical geography provides the main explanation for its uneven distribution of population. o Physical geography provides a basis for the location of the core: o An area with a more favourable physical base is more likely to develop into a core with a large population o The variations in physical geography provide the basis for biodiversity across Canada. Types of Rocks o Three are 3 major rock types: o Igneous rock:  Molten rock (magma or lava) that emerged onto earth’s surface cooled. It is hard, resists erosion and often contains minerals o Sedimentary rock:  Layered rock composed of materials that have been affected by wind and weathering. o Weathering is the breakdown of the rock and erosion is the movement of the broken materials. o Sedimentary rocks are usually flat and horizontal. o Sediments are cemented together by pressure and so not generally contain much mineral content. o Fossil fuel are sometimes found in these rock types. o Metamorphic rock:  Pre-existing rocks that change form by the process of extreme heat and pressure. They sometimes contain minerals. o Limestone is a sedimentary rock; the metamorphic rock of limestone is marble. The Rock Cycle Geologic Elements of Canada

-

-

-

o There are 3 major geologic elements and they each represent a different rock type:  Canadian Shield (igneous rock)  Platform (sedimentary rock)  Folded Mountains (metamorphic rock) o Canadian Shield o It is composed of highly resistant igneous rock. o The rock is over 1 billion years old making it the oldest rock in north America. o It extends from the northwest territories through the northern prairie provinces, northern Ontario. Northern Quebec and Labrador Major Geologic Elements of Canada o Platform  These rocks underlay the Interior Plains of the continent (from the Northwest Territories to Texas).  They are mainly sedimentary and contain large areas of oil and natural gas o Folded Mountains  Folding is caused by the movement of tectonic plates  It causes sedimentary rock to change into metamorphic rock  There are three major areas of folded mountains in Canada:  Appalachian  Innuitian  cordillera o Appalachian Mountains  Found in Quebec and Atlantic Canada they are relatively old relatively low well eroded and covered with vegetation o Innuitian Mountains  Found in northern Nunavut these are jagged but somewhat eroded mostly inaccessible mountains o Cordillera  The major ranges include the Rocky Mountains and Coast Mountains.  These are the youngest mountains in Canada the highest most jagged and have permanently snow-capped tops Physiographic Regions o A physiographic region is a large area of Earth’s crust that has common characteristics:  it extends over a large area with similar topographic features  its landforms have been shaped by common set of processes o Canada has 7 physiographic regions:  Canadian Shield  Cordillera  Interior Plains  Hudson Bay Lowlands  Arctic Archipelago  Appalachian Uplands  Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands Canadian Shield

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

o It extends over half of the country’s land mass. o The rocky surface consists mainly of rugged land. o During the last time of ice advance the surface was subjected to glacial erosion and deposition o It contains a wealth of valuable metallic minerals resources. Cordillera o A complex region of mountains, plateaus, and valleys. o It has the highest variation in relief of all the physiographic regions. o North-south alignment extends from Yukon to Southern British Columbia. o The rocky mountains are the best known and tallest of the many mountains ranges Interior Plains o This region was once covered by a large shallow inland sea where sediments eventually formed sedimentary rock. o The deep wide river valleys are a unique feature of this region and are evidence of glacial spillways Hudson Bay Lowlands o This region has many bogs and contains muskeg (poorly drained soil). o It has the least variation of relief of all physiographic regions. o Permafrost is widespread and there are only a few very small settlements Arctic Archipelago (big cluster of islands) o A complex area of coastal plains, plateaus, and mountains located north of the Arctic Circle. o The northern part of this region is permanently covered in snow and ice while the southern part contains tundra. o The region is underlain by continues permafrost making tree growth impossible. Appalachian Uplands o This is an area of rounded uplands and narrow river valley...