Canada's Population Distribution Essay

Canada’s population distribution is affected by the physical environment. Three ways in which it is affected is the climate, landform, and water bodies. Canada’s population is very concentrated in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. On January 1, 2013, 86.2% of people in Canada lived in one of the four provinces.

Climate plays a big role in where people choose to settle. The northern part of Canada has less population due to the weather. Fewer people in Canada choose to live in northern regions because of the climate, long cold winters, and short cool summers. The climate in the southern and central parts of Canada allow for long growing seasons,which means better agriculture, and is an area most people choose to settle in. Canada’s

Some lands are unsuitable for human habitation. Areas like the Innuitian Mountains have barely anyone living there because of its harsh weather and lack for source of income. Trees can't grow there because the Innuitian Mountains is located in the Tundra vegetation region. The plants that do grow there are lichens, mosses, and small shrubs. However some landforms like the Canadian Shield is home to many profitable natural resources, such as, gold, zinc, copper, and uranium. Farming in the Canadian Shield is not a large industries, so crops are not its best resource. The Canadian Shield also has lots of water, so many people have jobs related to hydroelectricity.

People also choose to live near large water bodies. Lakes, rivers, and the sea provide food and other resources. All cities require food, the closer the supplies are the cheaper the shipment would be. Plus having fresh, drinkable water is necessary for people. Large bodies of water are also an excellent source of fish meaning that many people would have jobs related to fishery. The hydroelectric industry would also provide many people with jobs, making people want to settle near the area for better convenience. People also settle near water bodies to use it as transportation, as it is more time efficient than taking a car on a busy road. Water bodies affect where people in Canada choose to settle in