GEOG 162 Lecture Notes - National Energy Program, Urban Geography (Journal), Sony Max
Document Summary
The two main physiographic regions here are the interior plains and the canadian shield (also there is a slice of the cordillera along the western edge of this region) Precipitation is similar to other regions but summers are longer and evaporation rates higher. Summer fallow is common to preserve soil moisture and fertility. Captain palliser"s survey (1857) concluded that short-grass vegetation area of southern alberta and saskatchewan was a northern extension of am desert; poor for agriculture. The prairies is seen as an agriculture region however; the area is not optimum for agriculture compared to southern ontario and southern quebec. Frost is unpredictable, no mountain barriers to the north so area is susceptible to arctic air. Homesteaders flocked here (1870-1914 and post war), creating a rural landscape of small farms. Rural to urban migration, whereby rural people moved to towns and cities (and bc urban centres) Push factors were mechanization of agriculture sector, consolidation of farms, shrinking need for labour.