Natural Resources
In 1980, and still today, Quebec has a diverse climateClimate is the average and normal weather in a specific place or region. and many physiographic regions that provide it with natural resourcesResources are anything taken from the earth or nature that people need, use, and are “valued”…. important to its economy. During the 20th century, Quebec’s economic development was partly due to the use of these natural resourcesResources are anything taken from the earth or nature that people need, use, and are “valued”…..
Water
Water is one of Quebec’s most important natural resourcesResources are anything taken from the earth or nature that people need, use, and are “valued”….. The territory’s relief makes it possible to create hydroelectric dams. The use of its many rivers to produce electricity helps to drive its economy. In 1980, Quebec had a network of hydroelectric dams that allowed it to be one of the largest power providers in North America. The Quebec government nationalized electricity in 1963. Twenty years later, Hydro-Québec operated nearly 50 dams, including Manicouagan’s Great River and Churchill River. The first phase of the larger James Bay project, completed in 1985, had taken 13 years to build!
Forests
Quebec’s forests are vast and rich. These forests also attracted many large companies which settled in Quebec’s resource regions, near the forests and power sources. Quebec’s main forest product was newsprint. In 1980, Canada was the largest producer of newsprint in the world, and nearly half of this production came from Quebec. Most of the paper was produced from spruce, found mainly in boreal and mixed forests.
Metals
The extraction of metals from Quebec soil, particularly in the Canadian Shield, was a very important industry. In 1980, the mining of gold and copper in the Abitibi and that of iron in northern Quebec were still active. On the other hand, the mining of asbestos in Appalachia had slowed considerably when it was discovered that this ore presented healthHealth is when you are free of injury, and physically and mentally well. Healthy eating means… hazards.
Divisions of Territory
Quebec
Between 1905 and 1980, Quebec’s territory expanded toward the north, and it stretched all the way to the Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay. This region came to be known as Northern Quebec. It was also known as Nunavik as it was called by the Inuit population.
Eastern Quebec is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Labrador. Southeastern Quebec is bordered by the United States while the Outaouais River marks its southwestern border with Ontario. Its western border is bounded by Hudson Bay and James Bay. Its borders have remained the same since 1820.
Canada
The rest of Canada’s territory has also undergone changes. First, Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949. Then, the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba grew by incorporating a portion of the Northwest Territories. These were extended right up to the North Pole. In 1999, the Northwest Territories was divided in two to form Nunavut. This area is mainly inhabited by the Inuit, who occupy the entire eastern part of the Northwest Territories.
