Water Maps

Water covers nearly three-quarters of the earth's surface, mainly in oceans but also as rivers, lakes, snow and glaciers. Water is also found in the atmosphere and underground. Over 97% of the earth's water is salty with the remainder in various forms of freshwater.

The Atlas of Canada offers a collection of water maps including:

• Drainage Patterns Map

  The easiest way to describe the pattern of rivers and lakes on a small-scale map is to show the pattern of drainage basins. In Canada, there is a detailed hierarchy of drainage basins, ranging from the largest (drainage into oceans and their equivalents), down to very detailed patterns. When a user sees the initial view map, it will show the ocean drainage areas, and then will expand to a more detailed network as he or she zooms in.

• Glaciers and Icefields Map

  This map shows the distribution of glaciers and icefields in Canada, and also gives the names of some of their more important individual bodies. The text below discusses the distribution of these features, and then briefly comments on their impact on the environment and on the population.

• Hydrogeological Regions

  Hydrogeological regions are areas in which the properties of sub-surface water, or groundwater, are broadly similar in geology, climate and topography. Hydrogeology is the branch of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of water beneath the earth’s surface. This map shows Canada’s nine hydrogeological regions, as well as a number of factors that affect groundwater properties.

• Wetlands Map

  This map shows their extent and also specific wetlands of particular importance. The notes below explain the nature and importance of wetlands, then discuss the nature of wetlands across Canada.