Chapter Five The Physical Geography of the United States and Canada

Section One The Land

Landforms Both the U.S. and Canada have mountains at their eastern and western edges Fertile plains lie between the two mountain ranges

Landforms Western Mountains and Plateaus A number of mountain ranges in the west were created after tectonic plates collided-- these are known as the Pacific Ranges Sierra Nevada Cascade Range Coast Range Alaska Range--home Mount McKinley, the highest point on the North American continent

Landforms Western Mountains and Plateaus The Rocky Mountains were also formed as rock was forced upward by tectonic plate movement Link the U.S. and Canada from more than 3,000 miles New Mexico to Alaska Between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains are plateaus and dry basins

Landforms Western Mountains and Plateaus Canyons & plateaus between the mountain ranges include: Canyons & plateaus between the mountain ranges include Columbia Plateau--formed by lava seeping into the cracks in the earth Colorado Plateau--displays flat-topped mesas and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River The Great Basin--hold Death Valley--the hottest and lowest place in the US Nechako Plateau & Fraser Plateau--Canada’s colder and narrower plateaus

Landforms Interior Landforms The Great Plains fall to the east of the Rockies Extend 300 to 700 miles across the center of the region Some points of the plains reach relatively high elevations--6,000 feet--with significant slopes of about 10 feet mile until the plains meet the Central Low lands at the Mississippi River

Landforms Eastern Mountains and Lowlands East of the Mississippi, the land rises in to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains Canadian Shield--lies at the edge of the Canadian plains A giant core of rock centered on the Hudson and James Bays that acts as an anchor for the continent James Bays

Landforms Eastern Mountains and Lowlands Appalachian Mountains Oldest mountains in North America & the second longest mountain range on the continent Costal lowlands lie south of the Appalachians Between the mountain range and the lowlands are rolling hills This area also contains many rivers that flow into the Atlantic coastal plains

Landforms Islands There are many different islands in the U.S. and Canada region & all are very unique NYC’s Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson river is a world economic center Hawaii was formed out of volcanic mountain tops in the Pacific Ocean 8 major islands, 124 smaller islands Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island (in the east) & Vancouver Island (in the west) make up Canada’s most important islands Greenland--the world’s largest island--lies off the coast of Canada’s Ellesmere Island

A Fortune in Water The U.S. and Canada have found great wealth from freshwater lakes and rivers Cities & rural areas are well supplied with water, which provides power for homes & industries, and allows for resources to be moved across the continent

A Fortune in Water Rivers from the Rockies The high ridge of the Rockies is called the Continental Divide or the Great Divide A divide--a high point or ridge that determines the direction that rivers flow East of the divide, waters flow toward the Artic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Atlantic Ocean, & the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico West of the divide rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean

A Fortune in Water Rivers from the Rockies Headwaters--sources for rivers The Colorado and Rio Grande have their head waters in the Rockies These rives have many tributaries--brooks, rivers & streams that connect with them The Mackenzie River flows from the Great Slave Lake to the Artic Ocean Drains much of Canada’s northern interior

A Fortune in Water The Mighty Mississippi The Mississippi River is one of North America’s longest rivers 2,350 miles long Begins in Minnesota Width grows to a mile and a half across Crosses 31 states & 2 Canadian provinces Excellent means transporting goods and spurring economic vitality in North America

A Fortune in Water Eastern Rivers The St. Lawrence River is one of Canada’s most important rivers 750 miles long--Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the Atlantic Acts as part of the boarder between the US and Canada Major Canadian cities like Montreal, Ottawa, & Quebec were built along St. Lawrence River & those cities depend upon the river & its tributaries for its main transportation source

A Fortune in Water Eastern River Fall line--a boundary in the eastern United States where the higher land of the Piedmont drops to the lower Atlantic coastal plain The rivers here are difficult to navigate and ships are not able to travel father in land The Niagara River forms part of the boarder between Ontario, Canada, & New York State Also a great source of hydroelectric power

From Glaciers to Lakes Glaciers that used to cover the Canadian Shield left glacial basins that became the Great Lakes Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Erie Lake Ontario Lake Michigan

Section Two Climate and Vegetation

A Varied Region Climates depend highly upon the region’s lines of latitude Areas that lie at high lines of latitude (farther away from the equator) have long, cold winters & mild summers Two thirds of Canada and Alaska, U.S. are at high latitude lines Most of the continental U.S. & the southern third of Canada lie within more temperate, but climate regions vary due to different elevations Hawaii has a tropical climate but is not part of the continental U.S.

Northern Climate Large parts of Canada & Alaska are in a subarctic climate zone Subarctic climate zone--occurs in high latitude areas south of the Arctic Circle Very cold winters--temperatures can fall to -70ºF Short, mild summers--very short growing season

Northern Climate The Arctic coastline falls into the tundra climate zone Tundra climate zone--nearer to the polar region Very cold Winter last about half the year & it stays dark for the entire season Summer’s are filled with sunlight but little heat Vegetation is scarce and variation is limited

Northern Climate Because it is difficult to grow plants and crops not many people live in this region Greenland’s tundra vegetation is made up of sedge, cotton grass, and lichens Only small trees grow in the small ice-free patches on the island

Western Climate The climates of Western U.S. & Western Canada vary significantly Different latitudes Different elevations Different ocean currents Different levels of rainfall Also causes variations in vegetation

Western Climate Marine West Coast Climate extends from the California Pacific coast to southern Alaska Ocean currents & winds in the Pacific Ranges create the marine west coast climate Results in more 100 inches of rainfall a year Cool summers and damp winters Vegetation consists of coniferous forests, ferns and mosses Southern California has a mild Mediterranean climat e Mild, r ainy winters & hot, sunny summers Vegetation is made up of woody bushes and short trees

Western Climate Plateaus, Basins, & Deserts Plateaus & basins between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains are very dry due to the rain shadow effect Rain shadow--dry area found on the leeward side of a mountain range Leeward--facing away from the direction from which the wind is blowing Creates problems with the quantity and quality of water in states like New Mexico Much of this area has a desert climate

Western Climate Plateaus, Basins, & Deserts Deserts in the area between the two western mountain ranges include Great Salt Lake Desert Death Valley Mojave Desert Chihuanhuan Desert Death Valley is the hottest area in the U.S. Temps have reached record highs of 134ºF Plant life in these areas consist of desert scrub, grasslands, and coniferous forests

Western Climates Plateaus, Basins, and Deserts Latitude is NOT the only determining factor in climate! Elevation also plays a key role in a region’s climate Higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ranges give them their highlands climate Higher elevation = cooler climate Also varies vegetation

Western Climates Plateaus, Basins, and Deserts Coniferous trees grow in the lower and middle elevations of the mountains At the timberline--the elevation above which trees cannot grow--only mosses and lichens can survive the constant cold weather During the late winter and early spring in the Rockies, snow is melted and evaporated by what is known as the chinook--warming winds

Interior Climates The Great Plains--lie at the center of the continent away from large bodies of water Humid continental climate with extremely cold winters and hot summers This climate extends into southern Canada

Interior Climates Prairies Prairies--naturally treeless expanses of grasses, spread across the continent’s midsection Supercells in the Great Plains are violent spring storms that spur on tornadoes

Eastern Climates The southeast region of the U.S. has humid subtropical climates Long, muggy summers & mile winters Deciduous forests extend as far south at Louisiana & the Florida Everglades harbor a variety of animal and plant life Hurricanes--ocean storms that occur in late summer and early fall with winds that reach 74 mph or more Regularly take place along the coast lines of the US

Eastern Climates The humid northeastern climate of the U.S. extends into southeastern Canada A band of deciduous and a mix of deciduous/coniferous forestlands sweep from Newfoundland to the Yukon Territory

Tropical Climates The only state within the entire continental U.S. that has a tropical climate is the southern tip of Florida Hawaii & Puerto Rico also have tropical climates