O Canada!Exploring Canada: A Study in Connections

Key Terms Geography

The study of Earth’s physical and human systems and the relationship among them.

Geographical Systems Various interconnected

systems that shape our world. Eg. Forces that cause devastating earthquakes or why nations trade with each other.

Mental Map A map in our mind of places

we know.

Population Density A figure calculated by

dividing the population od a region by the region’s area.

G.D.P. (per capita) Total value of the goods and

services produced within a country per person excluding transactions with other countries

Give a personal example of each of the following connections as they relate to your life

Local

Regional

Provincial

National

Worldwide

The 5 Focus Areas that are important to Geographers The reason things are located where they are:

A geographer might want to study, for example why McDonald’s would chose to locate a new restaurant in a particular place.

Geographical Systems that shape our world: A study, for example, might be done to try to understand the forces that cause

devastating earthquakes or why nations trade with each other. Interactions between people and the environment within which they live:

By focusing on these links we can better understand our problems such as how we contribute to global warming when driving a sport utility vehicle instead of an economy car.

Global Connections between regions and countries: For example, in studying trade, we might want to examine the role that

Canadians play in the economy of another country when we purchase a new pair of basketball shoes made in that country

Special tools and skills that geographers use, such as mapping, graphing, and aerial photographing: In addition to these traditional geographic tools, exciting new developments

allow geographers to study the Earth’s surface from satellites and to analyze and present geographic data using powerful computerized mapping software called geographic information systems (GIS)

(Modified from Graphic issues of the Twenty-first Century – Bruce W. Clark, John K. Wallace)

4 Ways to compare Canada to other countries Area Population Population density Wealth

How does Canada compare to other countries in terms of area? Canada is the second largest country

with an area of

9, 992, 000 km² Beaten only by Russia with an area of

17, 705, 000 km²

Lets Discuss: Looking at these numbers ONLY, what

could be assumed about Canada?

What two countries are smaller than Canada but come close in terms of total area? China with

9, 632, 000 km²

United States of America with

9, 363, 000 km²

Lets Discuss:Using our own informal knowledge, let’s discuss what these numbers imply and how those implications are or are not correct.

Which country has the largest population in the world? CHINA

1,331,460,000

Where does Canada’s population rank in the world? Canada ranks 35th with

33,739,900

1/200 people in the world are Canadian

What is Population Density?

_____Number of People_______ Number of Kilometres Squared

Lets Discuss:Given Canada’s current population, what is the population density for Canada? Where does Canada rank?What kinds of things could we assume about Canada given it’s population density. How could China’s or the USA’s population density be interpreted differently?

How is wealth Calculated? GDP – Gross Domestic Product / Capita (PPP)

Value of goods and services in 1 yearPopulation

Lets Discuss:How does this tell someone how rich a country is?Does this mean that every person living in that country is sharing in the same wealth? Why or Why not?

Basics vs. Luxuries Food Shelter Clothing Medical Care

What are some more?

Cars Computers Trips

What are some more?

What about Canada? How wealthy is

Canada in comparison to the world?GDP – 1.33

TrillionPPP -

$39,400

Comparison to the world GDP – 58.26

Trillion PPP – $8, 322

What is the poorest country? Ethiopia with a

PPP of $100Lets Discuss: What does this mean for the people living in Canada?What would be some causes in the discrepancies?

Snap Shots! Fresh Water

3rd

Number of Immigrants? 3rd

Energy use/capita? 3rd

Average Life expectancy? 2nd

Number of cars/trucks produced? 6th

Value of foreign trade? 8th

What does this say about Canada??

Why do you think Canada is such a great country??