The “Great White North.” Land of Maple Syrup. America’s Hat. Canada is known by many names, but here at Friday Sock Co., we call it home! With Canada Day around the corner, we want to take you on a journey from coast to coast with a little help from our Canadian Landscape Collection.
The West Coast
One of the most unique and beautiful landscapes around. The combination of ocean, fresh water and land creates a teeming environment that boasts the biggest diversity of animals in Canada! Think otters, orcas, seven species of salmon, grizzly bears, wolves and even bald eagles. Not to mention, the area just outside of the bustling city of Vancouver is home to some of the best skiing in the world!
The Rocky Mountains
Stretching from British Columbia all the way to New Mexico (USA) they are an adventurer's dream: massive summits, glacier-carved valleys and pristine alpine lakes. Animals that inhabit these crazy conditions include mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, owls and bears. Whether you’re looking for epic hikes, scenic drives, or an encounter with untamed nature, the 55 to 80 million year old Rockies are sure to blow your mind!
The Foothills
Funny enough, the Foothills fall right at the foot of the massive “hills” that we call the Rocky Mountains. Acting as a transition point between the vast prairies and the majestic Rockies, the landscape is dotted with forests and rivers. The location also creates some volatile weather - if you’ve experienced a Chinook before you’ll know what we’re talking about!
The Prairies
The Prairies cover Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Without the Rocky mountains, the Prairies would have looked wildly different. As those mountains grew taller, they eventually blocked the majority of rain coming from the West Coast, creating a “rain shadow.” While it stopped a lot of plant and tree growth, it created an awesome environment for grain farming and a unique spot for animals like bison, prairie dogs and swift foxes to thrive.
The Canadian Shield
Covering parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories, the Shield originated around 4 billion years ago! First was the volcanic activity and movements in the Earth’s crust, which created rocks like granite and gneiss. Then, over the next millions of years, the land was pushed and shaped by forces in the Earth creating glaciers, lakes, rivers and much more!
The Great Lakes
The largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth is made up of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario - all but 1 of which are accessible from Canada! About 20% of the earth’s fresh surface water is held up in these lakes.
Fun fact: the Great Lakes are so big they have their own tide like phenomenon called “Seiche” caused by pressure changes and wind patterns. Animals of this region include lake sturgeon, smallmouth bass, and the eastern box turtle!
The East Coast
The East Coast is a region renowned for its rugged beauty and vibrant coastal communities dotted with picturesque fishing villages, sandy beaches, stunning cliffs and charming lighthouses. The area encompasses Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and is home to the Atlantic Puffin, whales and seals.
Northern Canada
Last is the North of the Great White North so grab your toques! Northern Canada is a vast region across some of the provinces and territories. Coming with stunning mountain ranges, expansive tundra and pristine lakes, the north truly is an arctic wilderness.
Polar bears and arctic foxes are only found up there. While sparsely populated, the communities in Northern Canada have a rich heritage, with Indigenous traditions and close connections to the land.
From the frigid North, to the rainy West, across the Rockies and the Prairies to the East Coast, this country sure is impressive! This Canada Day, we celebrate beauty and diversity, and we recommend picking up a pair of Landscape Socks to show it! Jokes aside, Happy Canada Day, everyone!