Student Worksheet – An Introduction to the Online Atlas of Canada

The Search Our Site section of The Atlas of Canada enables you to search for the location of places and physical features in Canada on a map.

Activity 1

In February 2003, a flood and subsequent freezing of the floodwaters occurred in the town of Badger, Newfoundland and Labrador. Using the Advanced Search, locate Badger, Newfoundland and Labrador and complete the questions below.
[Steps: Type Badger in the search box on the home page and click on the arrow symbol » Find the search result indicating Badger as a Town and click on the link]

a. What is the absolute location (latitude and longitude) of Badger, Newfoundland and Labrador?
[Steps: Scroll below the map to find the latitude and longitude]

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b. Go back to the map that shows the location of Badger. Describe the relative location of Badger.
[Steps: Scroll up the page to view the map]

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Activity 2

Use the Search to locate Mount Logan, Yukon Territory.
[Steps: Type Logan (without Mount) in the search box on the home page and click on the arrow symbol » Scroll down the list to find the search result showing Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory]

a. What is the latitude and longitude of Mount Logan?
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b. Use the legend on the map of Mount Logan to find its elevation.
[Steps: Click on the link. Use the legend on the right side of the map to determine the elevation » You may have to scroll up or down, left or right to see that part of the legend]

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c. Find other information in the Atlas of Canada site that explains why Mount Logan is special.
[Steps: Click Facts About Canada in the menu on the left side of the page » Click the Mountains link in the list » Click Yukon Territory in the list below the introduction » The answer is beside the name of Mount Logan]

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The Explore Our Maps section contains thematic maps about Canada.

Activity 3

In the Explore Our Maps section, locate the Major Avalanches Map.
[Steps: Find and mouse-over the Environment label in the left menu » Find the Natural Hazards label in the pop-out menu and click » Select the Major Avalanches Map title in the list that appears]

a. Find and write down the definition of avalanches.
[Steps: Click the link in the text box in the upper right corner of the map]

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b. Return to the Major Avalanches Map. Describe and explain the distribution of avalanches in Canada.
[Steps: View the map by using the Zoom In tool and the arrows on the sides and corners of the map as necessary]

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Activity 4

Locate the Domestic Water Consumption, 1999 Map in the Explore Our Maps section.
[Steps: Find and mouse-over the Freshwater label in the left menu » Then the Water Consumption label in the pop-out menu and click » Select the Domestic Water Consumption, 1999 Map title in the list that appears]

a. Zoom into Thunder Bay and use the Get Info from Map tool to find out how much the domestic water consumption has increased or decreased between 1991 and 1999.
[Steps: Click on the map until Thunder Bay is clearly visible » Click the Get Info from Map tool above the map » Click on Thunder Bay and view the statistics in the pop-out window]

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Activity 5

Locate an outline map of Canada’s coastline and provinces and territories without names. Select the JPEG or PDF version of the map, print it off and then use a map of Canada’s provinces and territories from the online atlas to help you label the names of the provinces and territories on the outline map.
[Steps: Find and mouse-over the Reference Maps label in the left menu » Then the Canada Outline label in the pop-out menu and click » Select the Coastline and Boundaries of Canada Map title in the list that appears » Select the JPEG or PDF version and print it]

This part of The Atlas of Canada enables you to view the maps of the older editions of the Atlas of Canada.

Activity 6

Find the Aboriginal Groups [circa 1906] Map in the 1st Edition, 1906, Atlas of Canada.
[Steps: Find and mouse-over the Map Archives label in the left menu » Select the 1st Edition of the Atlas of Canada using the pop-out menus and click » Scroll down the page and find the People and Society section and select the Aboriginal Groups [circa 1906] map]

a. What is the major aboriginal group on Vancouver Island?
[Steps: Zoom into Vancouver Island by clicking on the map in its general area and use the arrows on the side of the map to move it around until the text is readable and the word Nootka can be read]

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Activity 7

Find the Seismicity [1994] Map from the 5th Edition, 1978 to 1995, The National Atlas of Canada.
[Steps: Find and mouse-over the Map Archives label in the left menu » Select the 5th Edition of the National Atlas of Canada using the pop-out menus and click » Scroll down the page and find the Environment section and select the Seismicity [1994] map]

a. Find the location and the date of the largest earthquake in Canada’s eastern Arctic.
[Steps: Solution A: Zoom into the legend by clicking on the bottom left area of the map » Use the arrows on the side of the maps to move it around as necessary » Do this until the text in the table is readable. Solution B: Zoom into the Baffin Island area » Use the arrows on the side of the map to move it around » Do this until the location marked with a date is readable]

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Activity 8

Select the Facts About Canada section. Under the List of Facts, choose the Significant Canadian Facts link. Scroll down the page until you find information about the Canada/USA boundary. How long is the boundary between the two countries? Click on the photograph of the vista to see the actual border.

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Activity 9

Choose one other area of interest you may have about Canada contained in the Facts About Canada section and browse for a couple of minutes. Our country is indeed awesome! Create a question from your research for a classmate to answer.

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Activity 10

Spend the remainder of the lesson having fun quizzing yourself using the interactive quiz section of The Atlas of Canada.
[Steps: Go back to the home page » Select All Resources under Learning Resources on the left side of the home page » Under List of Topics select Quizzes » Select some options and submit to get a quiz sheet]

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