Understanding Canada’s Physical and Human Geography

Abstract

This study examines how Canada’s varied physical geography influences patterns of settlement, regional economies, environmental pressures, and long-term development trajectories. Spanning a wide range of landforms and climatic zones—from the rugged terrain of the Western Cordillera to the Arctic’s polar environment—Canada’s geographical structure shapes both human activity and resource utilization. Adopting a qualitative descriptive framework, the research integrates evidence from scholarly sources, governmental publications, and spatial data analyses. The findings highlight pronounced regional contrasts in population density and economic function, with extensive regions such as the Canadian Shield supporting limited settlement due to physical constraints, while southern corridors and the Prairie provinces sustain intensive agriculture, urban concentration, and industrial growth. The analysis further reveals that climate-related risks are most severe in northern regions, where environmental change disproportionately affects Indigenous communities and fragile ecosystems. Major metropolitan areas have expanded largely as a result of favorable geographic positioning that facilitates trade, transportation, and economic connectivity. Overall, the study emphasizes the central role of geography in shaping Canada’s national development and advocates for region-specific policy approaches that prioritize environmental resilience, infrastructure planning, and Indigenous land governance.