Geography of Manitoba

The Geography of Manitoba is the study of the geography of the easternmost of the three prairie provinces, located in the longitudinal center of Canada. Manitoba borders on Saskatchewan to the west, Ontario to the east, Nunavut to the north, and the American states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south. On comparative level, Manitoba ranges from 490 ft (150 m) to 980 ft (300 m) above sea level. [cite web|url=http://www.travelmanitoba.com/default.asp?page=130&node=585&menu=436|title=Manitoba Geography|accessdate=2006-09-23] Baldy Mountain, which is its highest point, is at 2727 ft (831 m). The northern 3/5 of the province is on the Canadian Shield. The northernmost regions of Manitoba lie in tundra and permafrost (permanently frozen subsoil).

All waters in the province flow into Hudson Bay, due to its coastal area. Lake Winnipegosis and Lake Winnipeg are two of its largest lakes. Important rivers are the Red River, Assiniboine River, Nelson River, and Churchill River.

Manitoba has an extreme climate, but southern latitudes allow extensive growth for agriculture. The northern area of the region ranges from coniferous forests to muskeg to tundra in the far north. Before settlement had occurred, a vast portion of southern Manitoba was either flood plain or swamp. [cite web|url=http://www.fact-index.com/m/ma/manitoba.html|title=Manitoba|accessdate=2006-09-23|last=Jones] . An extensive system for drainage ditches was required for construction throughout south central Manitoba to make the region suitable for cultivation.

Historical geography

It is bordered on the east by Ontario, and south by North Dakota and Minnesota, on the west by Saskatchewan, and north to Nunavut. Northeast Manitoba follows the Hudson Bay shoreline. Churchill, on the Hudson Bay is the only port for itself and the remaining prairie provinces. The harbour serves as an open market for grain.

Manitoba was the first province to be involved in the wheat industry. There are only three ice-free months a year that allow for the shipments to be sent.

The Canadian Shield limits the amount of farming in the north, but there are some forestry and mining operations. The majority of the grain production is found in farms in the south.

Central and southern Manitoba is covered by lakes and rivers. Most of the population is centered in the southern third of the province. [cite web|url=http://www.canadianaconnection.com/cca/manitoba.htm|title=Manitoba Historical Geography|accessdate=2006-09-23]

Manitoba played a significant role in the population of the Canadian west. Explores arrived in Manitoba by the Hudson Bay, in search of a passage to China. As the fur trade boomed, settlements rose up in the province to trading posts for the Natives and the Voyageurs (trappers). The settlement was not easy, and colonization slowed down for several years (1816). In 1870, the Hudson's Bay Company sold its huge domain to the confederation of Canada.

Settlement inflated in Manitoba when the railway was built in the province and again in late 18th, early 19th century when government promoted settlement by European immigrants.

Mountain ranges of Manitoba

The three dominant mountain ranges in Manitoba consist of Duck Mountains, the Pembina Mountains, and the Porcupine Mountains. They encompass natural beauty, tourist attractions, resorts, provincial parks, and many recreational activities.

The Duck mountain range is located in western Manitoba and stretches along the north-south Saskatchewan border. The highest point is Baldy Mountain, which reaches 2, 727 feet. Duck Mountain Provincial park is located within the range and includes vivid scenery, tranquil Madge Lake, aspen forests, beaches, campgrounds, and fishing. [cite web|url=http://www.traveltocanadanow.com/article.asp?article_id=59|title=Mountain ranges|accessdate=2006-09-23]

The Pembina Mountains are located in southern Manitoba and extends over to Assiniboine River and the North Dakota border. Its highest point is 2, 000 feet.

The Porcupine Mountains range is located in west-central Manitoba and extending along the Saskatchewan border. The highest point, which is Hart Mountain near Swan River, rises to 2,700 feet. The area is for diverse habitats, ranging from prairies to glacier valleys to plateaus and well-known for its dense forest.

Geology

In central Manitoba lies the Flin Flon greenstone belt, which is one of the largest Paleoproterozoic volcanic-hosted massive sulphide districts in the world, containing 27 copper-zinc-(gold) deposits from which more than 183 million tonnes of sulphide have been mined.cite paper | author = Norris, Jessica | title = Report on the 2007 Diamond Drilling Program McClarty Lake Project, Manitoba | publisher = Aurora Geosciences Ltd. | date = 2007 | url = http://www.troymet.com/i/pdf/2007McClarty43-101.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-02-22 ]

Other facts

=Location and Boundary=

* Area: 250,946 miles / 649,950 km
* Land Surface: 2123231,721 miles / 548,360 km
* North to South: 7232361miles / 1225 km
* Width (South): 27232329 miles / 449 km
* North Boundary (Width): 260 miles / 418 km
* Coastline: 4023235230 miles / 645 km
* "Water surface": 39,225 miles / 101,593km
* Widest Point: 4923233 miles / 793 km

Miscellaneous

* Capital: Winnipeg
* Largest City: Winnipeg

Area

* 8th largest % of fresh water
* The 6th largest province

Population

* Total (2001): Density Ranked 5th
* 1 150 000
* 1.78/km² Time zone UTC: -6

References

Notes

* [http://www.travelmanitoba.com/default.asp?page=130&node=585&menu=436 Manitoba Geography]
* [http://www.fact-index.com/m/ma/manitoba.html Manitoba]
* [http://www.canadianaconnection.com/cca/manitoba.htm Manitoba historical geography]
* [http://www.traveltocanadanow.com/article.asp?article_id=59 Mountain ranges]
* [http://home.westman.wave.ca/~hillmans/strathwh.html Praire:Manitoba: Strathclair] by John Welsted, John Everitt and Christoph Stadel of University of Manitoba Press

Further reading

* Dredge, L. A., F. M. Nixon, and R. J. Richardson. Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology of Northwestern Manitoba. Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Govt. Pub. Centre, Supply and Services Canada, 1986. ISBN 0660121638
* Dredge, L. A., and F. M. Nixon. Glacial and Environmental Geology of Northeastern Manitoba. Ottawa, Canada: Geological Survey of Canada, 1992. ISBN 0660143992

ee also

* Geography of Canada
* List of highest points of Canadian provinces and territories

External links

* [http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjgeog/a/pusmb.htm Manitoba Provincial Unit Study]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~canmb/mangenlinks.htm Manitoba Geology]
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/manitoba Answers.com for Manitoba]