Chapter 5 A Land of Contrasts

Landforms and Resources Section 1

Landscape Influence Development  The United States and Canada occupy the northern central four fifths of North America.  They stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans. Canada is the second largest country and the U.S. is the third largest.

Landscape Influenced Development  The U.S. and Canada have vast natural resources including; fertile land, forests, mineral deposits, and large water supplies. This has attracted immigrants for many centuries.

Many and Varied Landforms  The Eastern Lowlands- A flat coastal plain that runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Excellent harbors and agricultural land.  The Appalachian Highlands- The Appalachian mountains are in this region. They run from Newfound Land to Alabama. The mountains are so old that the peaks are not very high due to erosion.

Many and Varied Landforms  The Interior Lowlands- Includes the Great Plains and the Canadian Shield. This flat mostly treeless area was shaped by glaciers many years ago.  Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins- Includes the Rocky Mountains which run from Alaska to New Mexico. The Rockies are younger and higher than the Appalachians. The continental Divide is the highest peaks of the Rockies and separates the rivers running east and west.

Many and Varied Landforms  Islands- There are many artic islands in Canada. We also Islands off of Alaska and Hawaii which are part of the ring of fire.

Resources Shape Ways of Life  Oceans and Waterways- The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans help support life in the U.S. and Canada as well as transportation. The Great lakes provide a huge waterway for transportation in the U.S. and Canada. As well as the Mississippi and Mackenzie Rivers.

Resources Shape Ways of Life  Land and Forests- Abundant farming land and forest provide great resources to a large population.  Minerals and Fossil Fuels- The U.S. and Canada have a vast array of Natural Gas, Oil, Coal, Nickel, Copper, Gold, and other minerals.

Climate and Vegetation Section 2

Shared Climates and Vegetation  Colder Climates-The artic coasts of Alaska and Canada have tundra climate and vegetation. Winters are long and bitterly cold. Summers are short and chilly (July 40 degrees). Some of Alaska and Canada have a sub-artic climate with cold winters and mild summers. This area is covered with needle-leaf evergreens.

Shared Climates and Vegetation  In some places there is permafrost which means the ground is permanently frozen year round.  Moderate Climates- A humid continental climate exist along the Canadian/U.S. border. Winters are cold and summers are warm. This produces some of the best farm land in the world.

Shared Climate and Vegetation  The pacific coast has a marine west coast climate. Pacific current and coastal mountains affect the climate. Prevailing Westerlies are winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes.

Differences in Climate and Vegetation  Milder Climates- Most of the southern states have a humid sub- tropical climate. Summers are hot and muggy. Winter rain from the Gulf of Mexico provides a long growing season. Parts of California have a mediterranean climate where summers are dry and winters are rainy.

Differences in Climate and Vegetation  Dry Climates- The Great Plains have a semi-arid climate. Dry with less than 15 inches of rain per year. The southwest U.S. has a desert climate with less than 10 inches of rain per year.  Tropical Climates- Hawaii and south Florida have tropical climates with lots of rain. Hawaii has vast rain forest and Florida has the everglades which is a 4000 square mile swamp land.

Extreme Weather  Artic air masses sometimes collide with warm gulf air masses and produce severe storms, tornados, and blizzards. The Great Plains are known as tornado alley. There is also a threat of Hurricanes which cause wide spread flooding and wind damage.

Human-Environment Interaction Section 3

Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land  Before people arrived, the lands of North America were only changed by natural forces.  Nomads were the first inhabitants of the land that now makes up the United States and Canada.  Nomads are people who move from place to place usually following food and water.

Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land  Archaeologist believe nomads arrived in North America via Beringia, which was a land bridge that connected Alaska to Siberia, which is part of present day Russia.  Agriculture- settlements became permanent after agriculture replaced hunting and gathering. As people cleared land for Agricultural purposes they began to reshape the land.

Building Cities  Many factors determine how a city is built and where it is located.  Montreal Quebec- There are over 100 days a year when the temperature is below freezing. They have built many buildings and shops underground to escape the harsh weather.

Building Cities  Los Angeles- The metropolitan area of LA covers 4,060 sq. miles and is still growing. Its great location on the Pacific Ocean and its mild climate made it a natural place for a city. The great increase has led to many problems such as pollution, transportation, lack of water, and construction problems due to earthquakes.

Trails and Inland Waterways  Early people created trails across North America. Wagon trails were a huge part of settling the west. Early settlers also connected water ways with canals. The Erie Canal was the first navigable water link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Trails and Inland Waterways  St. Lawrence Seaway- North Americas most important deep water ship route was completed in the 1950’s. The seaway connected the great lakes to the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence River. Locks allowed ships to raise and lower over 600 feet to get the vessels up and down the water way.

Transcontinental Railroads  After the invention of the steam locomotive, settlers set out to connect the east and west coast via railroads. The U.S. completed its transcontinental railroad in 1869 and Canada’s was completed in 1885.

National Highway Systems  Before there were railroads, roads connected towns. The invention of the automobile spurred road building. The U.S. has over 4 Million miles of road while Canada has 560,000. Canada’s roads are concentrated in the south and mainly run east to west. The trans-Canada highway connects Newfoundland to British Columbia and stretches 4,860 miles.

National Highway Systems  The United States has an Interstate Highway system that crisscrosses the country. Interstate Highways run North and South and connect the U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico. There are 46,000 miles of intestate highway. The U.S. also has state and county highway systems that connect people on a smaller scale.