Natural Resources CanadaGovernment of Canada
 
 Français ÿ  Contact us ÿ  Help ÿ  Search ÿ  Canada site
 ESS Home ÿ  Priorities ÿ  Products &
 services
ÿ  About the
 Sector
ÿ  Site map
Satellite image of Canada
Natural Resources Canada
Urban geology
.Home
Geomap Vancouver
.Home
.Viewing the map
.Geological units
.Geomap area from space
.Physiography of geomap
.Beneath Vancouver
.Earthquake ground motion
.Earthquake liquefaction
.Flood hazard
.Slopes and landslides
.Groundwater and aquifers
.Additional information
Related links
.Geoscape Vancouver


Geological Survey of Canada
Geological Survey of Canada


Proactive disclosure


Print version Print versionÿ
ÿGeological Survey of Canada
Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Geological Survey of Canada > Urban Geology
Geomap Vancouver
Physiography of geomap

Physiography of geomap

Legend unit 1Lowland (modern sediments)
Legend unit 2Uplands (Ice age sediments)
Legend unit 3Mountains (bedrock)

Physiography is the surface form of the Earth. The Vancouver region includes three main physiographic areas. Mountain areas (Coast and Cascade Mountains) comprise rugged bedrock ridges and peaks and intervening steep-walled valleys. The larger valleys contain thick modern and Ice Age sediments and also host large lakes and streams. The other two physiographic areas are within the Fraser Valley. Higher parts of the Fraser Valley are gently rolling uplands, ranging from about 15 m to 250 m above sea level. Uplands are underlain by thick Ice Age sediments, largely of glacial origin. Flat lowlands occur along the Fraser River and its tributaries and are underlain by modern sediments.

2005-11-01Important notices