Land and water

Major Drainage Areas of Canada

Date of publication: 2024

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The Major Drainage Areas (MDA), as portrayed in this map, are part of the Standard Drainage Area Classification (SDAC) which was developed by Natural Resources Canada, in partnership with Statistics Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Download previous editions:

• Drainage Basins. 6th edition, 2010 (ZIP – PDF/JPG, 4.76 MB)
• Canada, Drainage Basins. 5^th edition, 1985 (PDF, 10.39 MB)
• Drainage Basins. 4^th edition, 1972 (PDF, 2.78 MB)
• Drainage Basins and River Flow. 3^rd edition, 1958 (PDF, 1.59 MB)
• Drainage Basins. 2^nd edition, 1915 (PDF, 1.64 MB)
• Drainage Basins. 1^st edition, 1906 (PDF, 1.57 MB)

Watersheds

Date of publication: 2010, 6^th edition

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This map shows Canada’s network of watersheds. A watershed is an area that drains all precipitation received as a runoff or base flow (groundwater sources) into a river or set of rivers. In Canada, there is a detailed hierarchy of watersheds, ranging from the largest (drainage into oceans and their equivalents), down to the smallest. Canada’s ocean watersheds are the Atlantic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Distribution of Freshwater – Wetlands

Date of publication: 2010, 6^th edition

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This map shows the distribution of freshwater wetlands throughout Canada. Wetlands are lands permanently or temporarily submerged or permeated by water and characterized by plants adapted to saturated-soil conditions. Wetlands are the only ecosystem designated for conservation by international convention; they absorb the impact of hydrologic events, filter sediments and toxic substances, supply food and essential habitat for many species, and more. Their location depends on local factors of drainage, topography, and surface material.

Download previous editions:

• Canada, Distribution of Wetlands. 5^th edition, 1986 (PDF, 3.78 MB)
• Wetlands. 4^th edition, 1973 (PDF, 2.70 MB)

Satellite Image

Date of publication: 2006, 6^th edition

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This map is a composite of several individual satellite images from the Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor on board various National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Satellites. The colours reflect differences in vegetation cover density: bright green for dense vegetation in humid southern regions; yellow for semi-arid and for mountainous regions; brown for the north where vegetation cover is very sparse; and white for snow and ice. An inset map shows a satellite image mosaic of North America with 35 land cover classes, based on data from the SPOT satellite VGT (vegetation) sensor.

Download previous editions:

• Canada, Satellite Image. 5^th edition, 1992 (PDF, 8.15 MB)

2020 Land Cover of Canada

Date of publication: 2025

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The Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) has used satellite imagery to create a land cover map of Canada at a resolution of 30 metres. This map is part of the 2010, 2015, 2020 Land Cover Map series.

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• 2015 Land Cover of Canada
• Land Cover. 6^th edition, 2010 (ZIP – PDF/JPG, 6.01 MB)

Plant Hardiness Zones

Date of publication: 2010, 6^th edition

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This map shows nine zones where various trees, shrubs and flowers are most likely to survive. These zones are calculated based on average climatic conditions and altitude of each area. The harshest zone is 0 and the mildest is 8. Each major zone is divided into subzones a and b (for example 3a and 3b) where zone a is slightly harsher than zone b.

Terrestrial Ecozones

Date of publication: 2010, 6^th edition

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This map shows the terrestrial ecozones of Canada. An ecozone is an area of the Earth’s surface that represents a large ecological zone and has characteristic landforms and climate. There are 20 basic ecozones: fifteen terrestrial and five marine. Each ecozone is distinguished from others by its unique mosaic of plants, wildlife, climate, landforms, and human activities. Ecozones are useful for general national reporting and for placing Canadas ecosystem diversity in a North American or global context.

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• Canada, Terrestrial Ecoregions. 5^th edition, 1993 (PDF, 11.01 MB)

Physiographic Regions of Canada

Date of publication: 2019

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This map shows Canada’s physiographic regions, each of which has its own topography and geology. Physiographic regions are large areas that share similar relief and landforms shaped by common geomorphic processes and geological history. Physiographic regions are often used to describe Canada’s geography to show regional differences in climate, vegetation, population and the economy. This map shows the location of seven physiographic regions, twenty-one sub-regions and their divisions with accompanying descriptive images and text.

Download previous editions:

• Physiographic Regions. 6^th edition, 2010 (ZIP – PDF/JPG, 8 MB)
• Physiographic Regions. 4^th edition, 1972 (PDF, 2.66 MB)
• Physiographic Regions. 3^rd edition, 1958 (PDF, 1.58 MB)

Permafrost

Date of publication: 2010, 6^th edition

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This map shows different levels of permafrost occurrence across Canada. Permafrost occurs when the ground remains at or below a temperature of 0°C for a minimum period of two years. Permafrost exists at both high latitudes and altitudes. Most of the soil moisture in permafrost occurs in the form of ground ice, which in turn occurs in several different forms. Permafrost and ground ice have significant effects on the economic development of the North. It affects the energy and mining industries, as well as the construction of modern settlements and infrastructure such as roads, railways, airfields, and utilities.

Download previous editions:

• Canada, permafrost. 5^th edition, 1995 (PDF, 3.78 MB)
• Permafrost. 4^th edition, 1973 (PDF, 2.76 MB)