Launch Interactive Map Viewer

Map Legend

Ice Ice Modern sediment Peat Mud, sand, and gravel Sand Ice Age sediment Silt and clay (or mud) Sand and gravel Till

Rock Carbonate rock Clastic sedimentary rock Metamorphosed clastic sedimentary rock Volcanic rock Metamorphosed volcanic rock Granitic rock Gneissic rock

Canada's surface is a mosaic of diverse earth materials, forming a geological landscape or geoscape. We depend on these earth materials as the foundation for our rich ecosystems, for the agricultural soils that produce our food, for critical groundwater resources, for the metals and building materials on which our civilization is based, and for oil and gas that fuel our economy and provide essential plastics.

We also live on a dynamic Earth, which is vulnerable to floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. We must carefully consider our geoscape in land use decisions to achieve wise stewardship of our great landmass.