1 Natural Environments of North America Section 1: Physical Features Section 2: Climates and Biomes Section 3: Natural Resources CHAPTER 7

2 North America

3 Objectives: What are the major landform regions in the United States and Canada? What are the major landform regions in the United States and Canada? What rivers and lakes are found in the region? What rivers and lakes are found in the region? Section 1 Physical Features

4 Major landform regions of the United States and Canada generally stretch from north to south. From east to west: eastern coastal plain eastern coastal plain piedmont piedmont Appalachian Mountains Appalachian Mountains interior plains interior plains Canadian Shield (north of interior plains, around Hudson Bay) Canadian Shield (north of interior plains, around Hudson Bay) Rocky Mountains intermountain region Pacific Coast region Alaska and Hawaii

5 Bodies of water: Major river systems Major river systems Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers St. Lawrence system St. Lawrence system Mackenzie River system Mackenzie River system Western rivers: Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Yukon Western rivers: Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Yukon Major lakes Major lakes Great Lakes Great Lakes Northern Canada: Athabasca, Great Slave, Great Bear Northern Canada: Athabasca, Great Slave, Great Bear Section 1 Physical Features

6 Objectives: Which climate types are found in the United States and Canada? Which climate types are found in the United States and Canada? What are the major biomes of the region, and where are they found? What are the major biomes of the region, and where are they found? Section 2 Climates and Biomes

7 Climates tropical wet and dry—southern tip of Florida, parts of Hawaii tropical wet and dry—southern tip of Florida, parts of Hawaii humid subtropical—most of southeastern U.S. humid subtropical—most of southeastern U.S. humid continental—northeastern U.S., southern and southeastern Canada humid continental—northeastern U.S., southern and southeastern Canada semi-arid—Great Plains, parts of intermountain region semi-arid—Great Plains, parts of intermountain region highland—Rocky Mountains highland—Rocky Mountains Section 2 Climates and Biomes

8 Climates Climates (continued) marine west coast—southeastern Alaska to northern California marine west coast—southeastern Alaska to northern California Mediterranean—southern and central California Mediterranean—southern and central California tropical humid—parts of Hawaii tropical humid—parts of Hawaii tundra—far northern North America tundra—far northern North America subarctic—most of Canada and Alaska subarctic—most of Canada and Alaska Section 2 Climates and Biomes

9 Biomes temperate forest—southeastern U.S. and much of the U.S. and Canadian west temperate forest—southeastern U.S. and much of the U.S. and Canadian west semiarid and desert—much of southwestern U.S. semiarid and desert—much of southwestern U.S. grassland—interior North America grassland—interior North America boreal forest—about half of Canada and Alaska boreal forest—about half of Canada and Alaska arctic tundra—northernmost region arctic tundra—northernmost region tropical—southern Florida and Hawaii tropical—southern Florida and Hawaii Section 2 Climates and Biomes

10 Objectives: What farming, forest, and water resources are found in the United States and Canada? What farming, forest, and water resources are found in the United States and Canada? How rich is the region in energy and mineral resources? How rich is the region in energy and mineral resources? Section 3 Natural Resources

11 Farming, forest, and water resources: Farming Farming wide variety of soils and climates wide variety of soils and climates abundant production of crops and livestock abundant production of crops and livestock Forests Forests leading producers of wood and paper leading producers of wood and paper major U.S. forests in southeast and northwest major U.S. forests in southeast and northwest Water Water plentiful supplies plentiful supplies irrigation and hydroelectric power irrigation and hydroelectric power coastal waters rich in marine resources coastal waters rich in marine resources Section 3 Natural Resources

12 Energy resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada. coal—good supply in both countries; U.S. has 25 percent of world total coal—good supply in both countries; U.S. has 25 percent of world total oil and natural gas—also plentiful, but U.S. uses more oil than it produces oil and natural gas—also plentiful, but U.S. uses more oil than it produces Section 3 Natural Resources

13 Mineral resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada. Canada is rich in nickel, zinc, and uranium— especially in the Canadian Shield—and also produces lead, copper, gold, and silver. Canada is rich in nickel, zinc, and uranium— especially in the Canadian Shield—and also produces lead, copper, gold, and silver. U.S. has valuable deposits of iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver. U.S. has valuable deposits of iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver. Section 3 Natural Resources