Geography of Eastern North America Grade 9

Vocabulary Physiographic region: territories that share similar natural features Natural features: include relief, types of rock and waterways. Relief: refers to the highest and lowest elevation points in an area. Mountains and ridges are typically the highest elevation points, while valleys and other low-lying areas are the lowest. Animal Husbandry: Farming in which animals are raised for food Natural Resources: Refers to elements which can be extracted from the soil or environment River Systems: all rivers and streams (water courses) in a given region Drainage basin: is when all the water courses flow toward a large body of water Climate: differences in temperature and precipitation between territories

Physiographic Regions Physiographic Regions influence the lives of the populations that settle there Therefore, geography had a major impact on settlement of the area from the earliest days when the Amerindians settled the land until today Physiographic Regions

MAIN TYPES OF RELIEF Mountain: significant altitude with a summit and slopes (several mountains are known as a mountain chain Hill: small rise coming usually from a plain or plateau Plain: vast flat land with little difference in elevation, often used in agriculture Plateau: Flat but higher than other land around it, sometimes used for agriculture and animal husbandry Valley: Low altitude land between elevated land(ie between mountains) usually along watercourses. Fertile lands suitable to agriculture

Natural Resources The natural resources required and wanted by society continually changes Certain natural resources led Amerindians to occupy Eastern North America Later these same resources cause Europeans to covet the same lands. From the 16th to the 19th century certain areas like the Ohio valley were fought over for their resources

Physiographic Regions within Quebec From North to South There are four physiographic regions in Quebec Canadian Shield: Vast Rocky plateau with thin infertile soil. Resources available are Fur and Timber Hudson Bay and Arctic Lowlands: Stretch of low elevation where less than 10 percent of the ground is permanently frozen (tundra). Few resources available in the early part of history other than hunting and gathering St. Lawrence Lowlands: Narrow plain consisting of fertile land and located on each side of the St. Lawrence River: Resources available are agriculture, animal husbandry, timber, and iron mining Appalachian Mountains: Range of low mountains separated by valleys that often have fertile soil. Resources available are agriculture, animal husbandry, timber, coal, and iron mining

Physiographic regions of Eastern United States Coastal Plains: Region of flat terrain and low altitude includes large rivers such as the Mississippi. Resources available are agriculture and commercial fishing\ Interior Plains: Region of flat terrain with some hills and valleys. Resources available are agriculture and the Fur Trade Interior highlands: Region of plateaus and hills

Climate Zones There are four climate zones in Quebec as well 1) The Arctic Zone: Temperature ranges from -32 degrees to minus 4 degrees and the growing season is 40 days long with 136 mm of precipitation per year. Hard to live here and limits settlement 2) Subarctic Zone: Temperature ranges from -27degrees to minus 12.6 degrees and the growing season is 80 days long with 396 mm of precipitation per year. Hard to live here and limits settlement 3) Humid Continental Zone: Temperature ranges from -12 degrees to 19 degrees and the growing season is 140 days long with 1174mm of precipitation per year. Central area of north America with best farming and easiest climate 4) Eastern Maritime Zone: Temperature ranges from -32 degrees to minus 4 degrees and the growing season is 40 days long with 136 mm of precipitation per year. Leads to a sea based economy as agriculture is unavailable As we can see Climate had a large affect on population distribution and migration patterns

River Systems Development of society has always been influenced by the water in the territory of that society Waterways served as communication channels and trade routes They also allowed access the interior of the continent where the best resources were The four entryways to the interior of North America on the east coast are: 1) Hudson Bay 2) The St. Lawrence River system 3) The Hudson/Mohawk River 4) The Mississippi River

River transportation was the highway of Pre-Confederation Canada