Exploration 1497 to 1760

---

Geographical exploration is the study of the events that lead to the systemic growth of knowledge about the geography of a country. The exploration of Canada is important to our understanding of how the accumulating knowledge of the geography shaped and formed many of our notions of our Canadian identity.

The geographical exploration of Canada from 1497 to 1760 is shown in twenty maps. Each exploration route shows by whom and when the knowledge of the geography of Canada was obtained. In these maps a substantial number of voyages are mapped, but these are only the exploration routes that revealed new geographic information and for which there are reasonably detailed and authentic records.

---

Map User Guide

In order to obtain the most information from the Exploration maps, users will require some understanding of how they were visualised. In order to overcome these challenges of this Internet mapping project, the user must zoom in, and use the identify tool to obtain information.

All Atlas maps open at an initial view, which shows all of Canada. There are two zoom levels subsequent to the initial view. Each exploratory route has been divided into several different phases, therefore, not all the exploratory routes appear at the same time, except at the initial view. For each exploration phase at the initial view, which is approximately at a scale of 1:40 million, the user will be able to view the location and extent of exploration for that phase, placed in the context of all the exploratory routes for the period/or map.

When the user zooms to the second zoom level at approximately 1:25 million, the user will be able to view the name of the explorer, and see the direction of movement. At the third and final zoom level, at approximately 1:5 million, the user can now view a more detailed map of each exploration route. At this zoom level, the user can clearly distinguish between exploration routes, and is able to use the identify tool to obtain attribute information.

For each exploration route, the following attribute information is available:

• Name of Explorer
• Date(s) of Exploration
• Country of Origin
• Portrait (if available)
• Exploration Description (This description is available in both audio and html.)
• Reason for Exploration

Geographical Names

The primary source of geographical names for the exploration of Canada in the period 1497 to 1650 was derived from the contemporaneous maps of the period and written documents. The geographical names used in these maps respect forms used in the contemporaneous maps of the period. It should be noted that many variants in toponymic form are common in the sources available.

In addition, over the centuries, many of these names have changed. To obtain the present day name, use the identify tool and place your cursor over the old geographical name and then click to obtain the current name.