ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST.

LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

Analysis of the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands

Date: Oct. 22, 2015

1!

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

2!

GREAT LAKES / ST.

LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

Introduction
The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands region is located between Qubec City and
Brockville, Ontario (See Figure 1). The area totals a meager 41,000 km2 within Canada,
making it Canadas smallest landform region. Though slight, this region holds more of
Canadas population than any other landform region; nearly 50% of Canadian populace.
(Elson, 2015). There are many reasons the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands are so
heavily populated. The area is known for being very industrialized due to the abundance
of natural resources found there; mining and manufacturing are both trades that are
popular in particular. Jobs are plentiful in the area because of this and it can also be noted
that the region contains many of Canadas biggest cities (Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa)
(Canada - Largest Cities, 2015), meaning there is a large amount of diversity in respect
to professions (especially in comparison to regions that are mainly rural). The large cities
are additionally responsible for much of the tourism in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence
Lowlands. This region also used to be home to a booming forestry industry in the 1800s,

Figure 1. The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands in Canada.

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

3!

but the movement contributed to the loss of many forested areas in the region. Now, some
of the most protected forests in Canada are located in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence
Lowlands. (Mission Statement, 2015). These protected forests possess the greatest
biodiversity in Canada, including species such as, the the five-lined skink (the only lizard
in Eastern Canada), the Cape May Warbler, and many common species like the whitetailed deer and moose. (St. Lawrence Lowlands, 2009).

Formation
The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands as we know them today are a result of
glaciation, which is the creation and eventual movement (in this case, melting) of
glaciers. This was followed by marine submergence, emergence and, finally, river
erosion and deposition, as identified by Elson (2015). This means after the Ice Age,
glaciers melted, causing flooding of the region before a resurgence of the land when the
water moved out to the oceans. The massive water movements resulted in the erosion of
existing rivers which then became wider and deeper. This water then saturated clay
deposits that were located under much of the lowlands, creating instability that led to
landslides. Landslides have occurred as recently as 2008 and are still affecting the region
today. (Cauchon-Voyer et al. 2008).
Additionally, Canada as a whole has notably unproductive land (only 5% of all
land is prime farmland), but in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands region much of
the land is productive (Figure 2). This is one of the reasons for the multiple populous
cities in the area. (Where are significant agricultural lands located? 2014). Arable land

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

4!

encourages settlement, which in turn encourages growth if resources are abundant. Water
is another plentiful resource in this area, and a very valuable one. The climate and land
characteristics play a role in this as well. The weather in the St. Lawrence Lowlands is
considerably mild compared to weather in more northern regions due to its position in
relation to the equator. Lowlands are flat and low by definition, making for optimal
building conditions in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands. These are all factors that
fortunately benefit the lowlands, and even influence tourism.

Figure 2. Farmland Classification in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands.

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

5!

Tourism
Tourism in this region is highly influenced by its physical geography. When
looking at attractions like the Niagara Falls, which runs along the boarder between
Ontario and New York State, it is obvious that the site is popular primarily because of its
formation as a waterfall. Looking back at how the region was formed, it is clear to see
that the erosion taking place in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands can be a
positive thing for local economy and creating jobs because of the geographic phenomena
it has created. The Niagara Falls also promotes other business in the area, such as hotels,
restaurants, and other smaller attractions that are close by. (Explore Niagara, 2015).
Since Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal are big cities with lots of history and places
of interest, they attract many tourists. Each of these cities even have seasonal festivals
and celebrations that bring different people to the area. For example, Ottawa holds
Winterlude, a winter celebration that features the worlds largest skating rink, the Rideau
Canal. The canal is a World Heritage site and was originally created as part of a defence
strategy, but after the plan fell flat (Parliament Hill, 2015), it became a route for
transporting goods from Montreal to Kingston. (Watson. 2015). Now, it is a waterway
where many recreational activities can take place all year long.
Another popular pastime in the region is camping. The numerous parks and
campgrounds along the St. Lawrence River (Camping, 2015) are sites of particular
interest, as well as the Rideau River (Find A Site, 2015), which is lined with cottages,
another draw of the area. These waterways are appealing because of the various activities

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

6!

that can take place on and around them such as the aforesaid camping, but also includes
fishing, boating, kayaking, etcetera.

Greenbelts
Greenbelts are vital to the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands economy and
people, the largest greenbelt in the world is located in the region (See Figure 3). They
generate produce for the local, regulate urban sprawl, clean air, and protect the
biodiversity in the area. (About the National Capital Greenbelt, 2015). The many
governments in the region have been welcoming greenbelts as a land use that is important
to their cities, but they haven't come without criticism.

Figure 3. Ottawa Greenbelt in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands.

2014 OutdoorOttawa.com

Though the land in the area is ideal for greenbelts because of its fertile soil
(Where are significant agricultural lands located? 2014) and abundant biodiversity (St.
Lawrence Lowlands, 2009), there is still opposition. Some farmers claim that the

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

7!

policies and restrictions on greenbelts inhibit them and the growth of their operations in
an article by Murray (2011). This is because land within greenbelts value decreases
because it can no longer be sold for development purposes and likewise. Farmers can
become stuck with their land as well as having no way of selling it. There is no denying
that greenbelts have done their job in the area reducing urban sprawl and protecting
land for food but Murray made an interesting point when she stated, The government
made a false assumption about agriculture: just because you save the land doesnt mean
you save the farms.

Cultural Item
The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands is home to the nations capital, the city
of Ottawa. Ottawa is rich with history and culture, fostering an extremely diverse
population. With the many different people and cultures that inhabit the city, it is
important to remember its roots. A cultural
item that can represent the the St. Lawrence
Lowlands isnt exactly an item, its a
building. See Figure
The Parliament Buildings were
erected between the years 1859 and 1866

Figure 4. The Peace Tower.

Library of Parliament.

(with the exception of the Tower and

Library), and their placement was largely decided by the geography of Canada. Ottawa
was not the first location chosen as the capital; before 1855, Kingston, Montreal, Toronto,

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

8!

and Quebec City were all selected as capitals, but they were eventually changed for one
reason or another. With Ottawa as the capital, its distance from the United States boarder
was ideal and the position between Montreal and Kingston was profitable as well. Due to
the likelihood of possible attacks from the United States, the Parliament was a safe
distance away from the opposing country and therefore, less likely to be targeted. With
the Rideau Canal already established in Ottawa, the area was a perfect site for the capital
to oversee and be involved in the trading between Montreal and Kingston. The
Parliament buildings are very old and a symbol of many things for the country and its
history like independence, form, and strength. Parliament Hill has also become a popular
tourist attraction because of its abundant history and significance. (Parliament Hill,
2015).

Conclusion
The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands is a very diverse land region with much
to offer. Between the formation, tourism, culture, and other important processes that
occur within the region, it is plain to see, though small, there are many reasons why this
region is vital to all other landform regions and Canada as a whole. Looking at the way
the region was formed, the ways it influences activities such as tourism in the St.
Lawrence Lowlands as well as the debate of ethics in agriculture is evident. With such a
large population in the area, and being aware of its age, there is a deep history and culture
that was largely shaped by the geography of the land that cannot be overlooked. In

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

9!

closing, it is clear to see that the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands is a tiny but
mighty landform region.

References
CAMIS Inc. (2015). Find A Site - Rideau River. Ontario Parks. Retrieved from https://
reservations.ontarioparks.com/RideauRiver
Canadian Geographic. (2013). Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands. Canadian
Geographic. Retrieved from http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?
id=CANADIANLANDFORMS&sub=CANADIANLANDFORMS_LAND_LAKES&la
ng=En
Cauchon-Voyer, G., Locat, J., St-Onge, G., Leroueil, S., & Lajeunesse, P. (2012).
Development and Potential Triggering Mechanisms for a Large Holocene Landslide in
the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary. Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences,
67-76. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-2162-3_6. Retrieved from http://www.ismer.ca/IMG/pdf/
Cauchon-Voyer_et_al_2012_ISSMMTC_Kyoto.pdf
Elson, John A. (2015). St. Lawrence Lowland. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved
from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/st-lawrence-lowland/#h3_jump_2
FOREST HISTORY SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. (2015). Mission Statement. Forest
History Society of Ontario. Retrieved from http://www.ontarioforesthistory.ca/index.php/
mission
GeoNames. (2015). Canada - Largest Cities. GeoNames. Retrieved from http://
www.geonames.org/CA/largest-cities-in-canada.html
Government of Canada. (2015). Parliament Hill: Pre-construction, 1826-1858. Public
Works and Government Services Canada. Retrieved from http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/
collineduparlement-parliamenthill/batir-building/hist/1826-1858-eng.html
Murray, Chelsea. (2011). How Ontarios Greenbelt is failing farmersand the local food
movement. this Magazine. Retrieved from http://this.org/magazine/2011/08/19/greenbeltfarms/

ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT LAKES / ST. LAWRENCE LOWLANDS

!10
National Capital Commission. (2015). About the National Capital Greenbelt. National
Capital Commission. Retrieved from http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/greenbelt/
about-national-capital-greenbelt
Neptis Foundation. (2014). Where are significant agricultural lands located? Neptis.
Retrieved from http://www.neptis.org/publications/agriculture-central-zone/chapters/
where-are-significant-agricultural-lands-located
Niagara Falls Tourism. (2015). Explore Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls Tourism. Retrieved
from http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/about/
Parks Canada. (2009). St. Lawrence Lowlands. Parks Canada. Retrieved from http://
www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/v-g/nation/nation76.aspx
St. Lawrence Parks Commission. (2015). Camping. Camping and Beaches. Retrieved
from http://www.stlawrenceparks.com/camping/
Watson, Ken W. (2015). History of the Rideau Canal. Rideau Canal World Heritage Site.
Retrieved from http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/hist-canal.html