Granite and sedimentary rocks of the Canadian Shield are on the top of the Earth's crust, some low, some high as your height and others high in the skyline. In some places, they are cut open by explosives to make right-of-way for highways.
The second element that made the terrain difficult is the dense temperate forests. These forests of tall trees and dense bushes occupy all the arable land. Without clearing them, they leave no open space to farm and build homes.
3rdly, the land is criss-crossed by a number rivers, creeks, lakes and marshes.
4thly, there is hradly a flat land. The terrain extra-ordinarily is hilly and steep mountains clothed in green treets, some perennial and others deciduous.
Overcoming all these difficulties, an achievement in its own right, all the land between Ottawa and Montreal is settled, farmed and cities and towns, big and small, have flourished.
Flash back! You think these people were Gurages!!

