Geography of Canada

Geography of Canada describes the land, waters, climate, ecosystems, and settlement patterns of the world’s second-largest country by total area. Stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic and into the Arctic Ocean, Canada includes vast shield rock, mountain ranges, prairies, boreal forest, tundra, thousands of rivers, and millions of lakes—giving it the longest national coastline in the world. Geography shapes Canada’s economy, transportation, biodiversity, and daily life.

At a glance — Geography of Canada

Area	~10 million km² (second-largest globally)
Coastline	Longest of any country (Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic)
Highest point	Mount Logan (Yukon), in the Saint Elias Mountains
Major regions	Canadian Shield; Western Cordillera; Interior Plains; Appalachians; Hudson Bay Lowlands; Arctic Lands
Largest lakes (entirely in Canada)	Great Bear Lake; Great Slave Lake
Major rivers	Mackenzie; St. Lawrence; Nelson; Fraser; Columbia (Canadian section)
Time zones	Newfoundland; Atlantic; Eastern; Central; Mountain; Pacific (regional exceptions)

Physical setting

Canada occupies most of the northern half of North America and the Arctic Archipelago. The country shares its longest land border with the United States and fronts three oceans: the Pacific (west), Arctic (north), and Atlantic (east). Inland, Hudson Bay forms a large inland sea connected to the Arctic.

Physiographic regions (overview)

Canada is commonly described in six broad regions; each has distinct geology, landforms, and resources.

Canadian Shield – Ancient Precambrian bedrock encircling Hudson Bay and extending from the Arctic to the Great Lakes; thin soils, countless lakes, boreal forest, abundant minerals.
Western Cordillera – Parallel mountain chains and plateaus along the Pacific margin (Coast Mountains, Columbia Mountains, Rockies) with deep valleys, fjords, and active tectonics.
Interior Plains – Sedimentary basins from the Mackenzie region through the Prairies; agriculture, potash, hydrocarbons, and grassland to parkland biomes.
Appalachians – Rounded highlands and coastal lowlands in Atlantic Canada; complex geology, forests, and productive continental shelf.
Hudson Bay Lowlands – Low-relief wetlands and muskeg around southern/eastern Hudson Bay; permafrost in parts, important carbon and wildlife habitats.
Arctic Lands – Arctic Archipelago and northern mainland; polar deserts, tundra, mountain ranges on the eastern islands, extensive glaciers and permafrost.

Relief and extremes

Highest point: Mount Logan (Yukon), part of the Saint Elias Mountains.
Lowest areas: Sea level along the three ocean coasts and shores of Hudson Bay/James Bay.
Largest islands: Baffin, Victoria, Ellesmere, Newfoundland, and the Vancouver Island–Haida Gwaii complex.
Largest lakes (entirely in Canada): Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake; the Great Lakes are shared with the United States.
Glaciers: Significant icefields remain in the Rockies and Arctic, influencing streamflow and fjord landscapes.

Hydrography

Drainage basins

Canada’s waters flow to multiple ocean basins:

Arctic Ocean – Drained largely by the Mackenzie River system, the country’s longest river.
Atlantic Ocean – The St. Lawrence River drains the Great Lakes; Atlantic Canada has numerous short, steep coastal rivers.
Hudson Bay – The Nelson River and many Shield rivers flow into Hudson and James Bay.
Pacific Ocean – Coastal British Columbia is dissected by the Fraser River and transboundary systems such as the Columbia.
Gulf of Mexico (minor area) – Small portions of southern Alberta/Saskatchewan drain south via the Milk–Missouri–Mississippi system.

Lakes, wetlands, and freshwater

Canada contains a large share of the world’s surface freshwater in lakes, rivers, glaciers, and wetlands. Northern peatlands and the Prairie pothole region are important for carbon storage and migratory birds.

Climate

Canada spans multiple climate zones. Latitude, elevation, ocean influence, and continentality produce strong regional contrasts.

Arctic & Subarctic – Tundra and subarctic climates with long, cold winters and short summers (Arctic Archipelago, Shield north, interior Yukon/NWT/Nunavut).
Boreal/Continental – Cold winters and warm summers across much of the Shield and Prairies; precipitation peaks in summer.
Marine West Coast – Mild, wet winters and cool summers along coastal British Columbia; temperate rainforest on windward slopes.
Humid Continental – Southern Ontario/Quebec and parts of the Maritimes; four seasons with warm summers and snowy winters.
Steppe/Semi-arid pockets – Interior British Columbia valleys and Prairie rain-shadow areas with drier conditions.

Weather hazards vary by region: winter storms, blizzards, freezing rain, river ice breakup, wildfire seasons, and occasional hurricanes affecting Atlantic Canada.

Ecosystems and biodiversity

Major biomes include Arctic tundra, boreal forest, temperate rainforest, prairie grassland, mixed/deciduous forests, and coastal/marine ecosystems. Wildlife ranges from caribou, muskox, polar bear and Arctic char in the North to salmon, orca, and giant conifers on the Pacific coast; moose, beaver, black bear, and migratory waterfowl are widespread. Conservation occurs through national, provincial/territorial parks, wildlife areas, and Indigenous-led protected and conserved areas.

Resources and land use

Forests – Extensive boreal and temperate forests support timber, pulp, and ecosystem services.
Energy & minerals – Hydroelectric potential in many provinces; petroleum and natural gas (notably in the West and offshore), uranium, nickel, copper, potash, gold, and iron ore.
Agriculture – Prairie grain and oilseeds; horticulture and dairy in southern Ontario/Quebec; specialty crops and vineyards in select valleys.

Responsible management addresses cumulative effects on land, water, and wildlife, alongside community and Indigenous rights and interests.

Human geography

Population clusters along the southern corridor and in several metropolitan regions:

Windsor–Quebec City corridor – Dense urban/industrial belt including Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.
West Coast & Interior – Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and urban nodes in the Okanagan and southern Interior.
Prairie cities – Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina anchor the plains.
Atlantic Canada – Halifax and regional centres; coastal and rural communities.
North – Smaller, widely dispersed communities such as Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit.

Settlement patterns reflect transportation corridors, resource development, climate, and historic trade routes.

Time zones

Most of Canada observes daylight saving time (DST) seasonally; regional exceptions exist (e.g., most of Saskatchewan does not change clocks; Yukon keeps a single year-round time). The six primary time zones are:

Time zone	Standard offset (UTC)	Notes
Pacific Time	−08:00	British Columbia (most) and Yukon border areas
Mountain Time	−07:00	Alberta; parts of BC, NWT, Nunavut, Saskatchewan border areas
Central Time	−06:00	Manitoba; parts of Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nunavut
Eastern Time	−05:00	Ontario, Quebec (most), Nunavut (eastern areas)
Atlantic Time	−04:00	New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI; parts of Labrador
Newfoundland Time	−03:30	Newfoundland and parts of Labrador

Regional summaries

Atlantic Canada

Rugged coasts, fjords and bays, fishing grounds, and the Appalachian highlands; maritime climate with cool summers and storm-affected winters.

Central Canada (Ontario, Quebec)

Canadian Shield lakes and forests to the north; farmland and urban belts to the south; Great Lakes–St. Lawrence lowlands concentrate population and industry.

Prairie Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta)

Level to rolling plains with parkland and grassland; major river systems; agriculture and energy development; continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.

British Columbia

Cordilleran mountains, temperate rainforest, and productive valleys; strong Pacific influence and varied microclimates.

Northern Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)

Tundra and subarctic forest, permafrost, mountains and islands; long winters, short summers; unique northern transportation and cultural landscapes.

Extreme points of Canada

Category	Location
Northernmost point	Cape Columbia, Ellesmere Island (Nunavut)
Southernmost point	Middle Island, Lake Erie (Ontario)
Easternmost point	Cape Spear (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Westernmost point	Yukon–Alaska border at the 141st meridian W
Highest point	Mount Logan (Yukon)
Largest lake entirely in Canada	Great Bear Lake (Northwest Territories)

External links (official)

Natural Resources Canada — Atlas of Canada: https://atlas.gc.ca
Environment and Climate Change Canada — Climate & weather: https://climate.weather.gc.ca
Natural Resources Canada — Canadian Geographical Names: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography/place-names/9170
Parks Canada — Protected places: https://parks.canada.ca
Statistics Canada — Geography and maps: https://www.statcan.gc.ca

FAQs

Why is Canada’s coastline so long?

Its deeply indented shores and the thousands of islands of the Arctic Archipelago create an extensive, highly irregular coastline across three oceans.

Which physical region covers the largest area?

The Canadian Shield dominates much of central and northern Canada, with ancient bedrock and countless lakes.

Where do most Canadians live?

Most people live within a few hundred kilometres of the U.S. border, especially along the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence corridor and in major western cities.

Why do climates vary so much across Canada?

Latitude, elevation, distance from oceans, and mountain rain shadows produce strong regional differences—from marine west coast to continental and Arctic climates.

What are Canada’s main drainage basins?

The Arctic, Atlantic (including St. Lawrence), Hudson Bay, and Pacific basins dominate; a small area in the Prairies drains south to the Gulf of Mexico.