West of the Rocky Mountains is Yukon
Territory. In the redivision of Canadian
territory (1912), Franklin, Mackenzie, and a
portion of Keewatin were added to Northwest
Territories, Ungava to Quebec and a portion
of Keewatin to Ontario and Manitoba.
Climate. The vast extent of Canada necessarily involves a wide range of climatic conditions. Except on and near the ocean coasts, the general characteristic of the climate of Canada as compared with that of Europe is that the summer is shorter, warmer, and has less moisture, and the winter longer and somewhat colder than in corresponding European latitudes. It is bracing and healthy, and in all respects suited to the fullest development of the races of the British Isles and northwestern Europe generally.
On the Pacific coast, owing to the Japanese current, the climate is identical in temperature with that of the British Isles, which lie in the same latitude. The influence of this warm current on the Pacific coast extends eastward across the western and into the central provinces, so that the winter climate of the western part of the central provinces is considerably milder than that of the eastern part. On the Atlantic coast, and inland, the climate is colder than in corresponding latitudes of Europe, because of the Arctic current which flows southward along the coast.
Surface. The important physical features of Canada are its mountains, lakes, rivers, forests and prairies and the great inland sea of Hudson Bay. The Rocky Mountains extend from the United States boundary northward to the Arctic Ocean. They bound the central plains on the west, and are the highest of the several parallel mcuntain ranges of the western province. They contain immense deposits, and in the parallel ranges between the Rockies and the Pacific coast are to be found the precious metals in great abundance, especially gold. The Laurentian Range of hills extends from the Atlantic coast, at the Strait of Belle Isle, westerly and northerly, a distance of 2,300 miles, to the east end of Great Bear Lake near the Arctic coast. In the east the Laurentian Range divides the waters flowing south into the St. Lawrence from those flowing north into Hudson Bay, and in the northwest it divides those flowing westward into Mackenzie River from those flowing eastward into Hudson Bay. But midway between the St. Lawrence and Mackenzie water-systems, the joint waters of the Red and Saskatchewan Rivers break northward through the Laurentian Range by way of Nelson River into Hudson Bay. The Laurentian Range carries iron in great abundance, but no coal. Silver, nickel, cobalt and many other valuable metals are also found, although the region has as yet been very little explored.
Drainage. The Laurentian district is remarkable for its numerous lakes, and especially for the succession of great lakes, which, forming part of three separate river systems, lie almost continuously along its southern side all the way from the Atlantic to the Arctic. The many streams and rivers which have their origin in the Laurentian Range afford unlimited opportunities for the creation of water power, and more than replace the lack of coal for all purposes for which power is required. The St. Lawrence and its tributary, the Ottawa, are the great rivers of eastern Canada; the Red and Saskatchewan of central Canada; the Fraser and Columbia of western Canada; and the Mackenzie and the Yukon of northern Canada. The St. Lawrence, Mackenzie and Yukon are among the largest rivers in the world.
The forests of Canada are one of the greatest sources of the national wealth. Maritime, eastern and western Canada were entirely covered by forest, of which only a small proportion has as yet been displaced by settlement and cultivation. The northern part of central Canada is also very considerably forested.
The prairies, which comprise the southerly portion of the central provinces, lie in an irregular triangle formed by the 29th parallel and the United States boundary on the south; the Rockies on the west; and the Laurentian Range on the northwest. They are watered in the southeastern part by the Red River, in the south and west by the Saskatchewan, and in the northwest by the Athabasca and Peace Rivers, branches of the Mackenzie.
Manufacturing and Commerce. With her vast mineral, fish, timber and other resources Canada is destined to become a great industrial and commercial country. During the last ten years the growth of her manufactures has been marvellous. The record of foreign commerce for the past few years shows that Canada's foreign trade is increasing more rapidly, proportionately, than that of any other country. The rate of gain for a period of ten years has been 132 per cent. The total of Canada's exports in 1913 was $393,232,057, of which the amount to Great Britain was $177,982,002 and that to the United States $167,110,382. Total imports $692,032,392 in 1911. From the United States came $455,322,555 and from Great Britain $139,653,587. Much of the Canadian wheat is shipped direct to Europe. In 1913 the value of the wheat exported was $88,608,730; of flour $19,970,689; of cheese $20,697,144; and of pork, bacon and ham $5,731,474.
The total value of lumber exports in 1913 was $33,433,089, much of it going to Great Britain. Thirty-five mills are converting spruce into wood-pulp.
Minerals. British Columbia and Nova
