Importance of Waterscapes

Lakes and other water bodies are not just an integral part of the Canadian experience…

• They are home to many species of plants and animals, providing important habitats for all or part of their life cycles;
• They make important contributions to the economy and human well-being
• They make important contributions to ecosystem function and biodiversity
• And these are just some of the many important aspects of Canada’s waterscapes…

Canada’s aquatic ecosystems cover a diverse spectrum of waterscapes. Types of aquatic ecosystems include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, creeks, peatlands, wetlands, swamps, vernal pools, sloughs, prairie potholes, and many more.

Check out the following links for more information on the importance of water and aquatic ecosystems for people, the economy and wildlife in Canada:

Atlas of Canada’s Freshwater section

Canadian Museum of Nature’s Diving In website

Environment Canada’s Aquatic Ecosystems website & Aquatic Ecosystems and Habitats website

University of Guelph’s Aquatic Animals website

Natural Resources Canada’s Freshwater Sustainable Development site

Environment Canada’s Freshwater Facts for Canada and the World site

Science.gc.ca’s on-line Water library

Also, check out these pages on our site for more detail on the importance of waterscapes: