North America RHS- World Geography Anderson

Physical Characteristics zUSA, Canada have mountains, long coastlines, coastal islands, rivers, plains, & plateaus zThe Rockies are so tall in some places, that a “rain shadow” is created when the tops of the mountains block moisture coming in from the Pacific Ocean. (Remember that weather patterns flow W to E due to Jet Stream) zThis “rain shadow” effect makes the western side of the mountains very wet (windward side) and causes the eastern side of the mountains to be very dry (leeward side).

Appalachians ROCKY MOUNTAINS Cascades/ Coastal Ranges There is an imaginary line of high elevation that runs northwest to southeast through North America. This is the dividing line that separates any water that flows west towards the Pacific and water that flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. This line follows the Rocky Mountains and is called the Continental Divide

RAIN SHADOW EFFECT Even the Andes Mountains in S. America create rain shadows on leeward slopes and cause moisture to be blocked. That’s how we see such dry areas in Latin Am. The Andes are so high that they block moisture from the ocean and create grasslands and deserts on the other side of the mt. Pacific Ocean ANDESANDES Windward side of the mountains Leeward Side or “protected” side of the mountains

zWeather and Climate is also dominated by Maritime, Humid subtropical & Humid Continental Climates- natural hazards include hurricanes & tornadoes z“Tornado Alley” is found in the Midwest- especially throughout the wide fertile area called the Great Plains.

Regional Labels zThese are areas that share similar characteristics and have been given “nicknames” like the: zDairy Belt Corn Belt zTornado Alley The West zDixie Bible Belt zBreadbasket Great Plains

Economics zEconomics are very similar to Europe: zDeveloped World: Have many industries z"Clean Industries“ (don’t give off much pollution/by-products)- computer manufacturing, financial services, information & communication z"Dirty Industries“ (may give off heavy pollution)- manufacturing automobiles, power, textiles, petroleum processing, paper

zAgriculture in North America (farming and herding): Grains= major wheat producing area, tobacco, fruits & vegetables as well as cattle ranching zUS is known for AGRIBUSINESS: any large- scale farming enterprise zThe US and Canada are major exporters of: zTechnology zConsumer goods zInformation Systems zFoodstuffs

Trade: NAFTA and global zNAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) zIt promotes trade and economic growth by allowing free trade between the 3 member countries (US, Canada, Mexico) zSupports trade and business around the world Multinational Corporations: zNike Microsoft IBM Coca-Cola

And what’s the world’s largest store? WAL-MART!!!

Commonalities (shared items) in North America zEuropean based majorities (English, Irish, German, Scot- among others) zMajority is Christian religion- then Islam & Judaism zDemocracy- strong political thinkers zEuropean traditions mixed with Native Americans along with Middle Easterner and S/SE Asian

But even with major similarities, there are cultural differences in the region. Would any of these be found in North America? YES! THEY ALL WOULD

Canada’s province of Quebec is French speaking (Francophone) and wants to separate from the rest of English- speaking Canada. This is causing a lot of conflict with Canada’s national identity. Bi-lingual signs like this one make some people mad. (see page 201 in your text)

zThere are regional differences between the US states. zNew Englanders sound, eat, & act different from states in the South. z For example, no one from Yonkers, NY eats grits or biscuits & gravy! zLikewise, people from the Midwest certainly don’t sound like people from the Valley in Southern California!!

San Francisco Los Angeles Seattle Chicago New York City Washington DC St. Louis Dallas EVEN MAJOR CITIES HAVE DIFFERENCES AMONG THEM… LIKE CHICAGO’S DEEP DISH PIZZA VS. NEW YORK’S PIZZA PIE… OR SEAFOOD PREPARED IN SAN FRANSICO VS. SEAFOOD PREPARED IN WASHINGTON DC OR COFFEE IN SEATTLE PREPARED IN STARBUCKS VS. COFFEE PREPARED IN DALLAS (OK- IT’S STILL STARBUCKS) CAN YOU GUESS THESE CITIES? REMEMBER YOUR “MENTAL MAPS”

US Culture around the world? YES! zCultural diffusion: the spreading of a cultural trait (i.e. material object, idea, or behavior pattern) from one society to another. zWhen cultures join and merge (like a hybrid) it is called cultural convergence.

What’s the evidence of cultural interaction? z Diffusion of US culture to other regions- foreigners wearing denim jeans and chewing gum, eating at McDonald’s, drinking Coke. zPopular culture traditions done in the US from other countries: Americans celebrating Cinco de Mayo, Mardi Gras, having a luau, or playing with a piñata at a party. zThe spread of any culture traits around the world can be very evident in pictures. What culture traits are represented?

In Australia, it’s NOT Burger King….it’s Hungry Jack’s!!

zWe are a "Melting Pot" of peoples zEuropean and Asian Immigration since 1840s zEnglish colonization on the east coast (orig. 13 colonies)- spread to West coast over time. (Manifest Destiny) zMajor push in 1910s and post WWII from all over the world z Modern immigration from Latin America (esp. Mexico)

Impacts of migration on the region z Originally from overseas, foreign cultures have migrated to the United States/ Canada. z Language- places have become bi-lingual zReligious freedoms and different religions enter the areas. z Multiple customs/traditions= blending of cultures zChanges of the cultural landscapes (monuments, buildings, different styles of homes, businesses, places of worship)

zHuman Impacts? (think back to Unit 3 and the 4 De-s) Acid rain, ozone depletion Water pollution (esp. Chicago on Lake Michigan, Detroit with the auto productions, & other urban centers with heavy pollution. There are even industrial spills like the Exxon Valdez along the Alaskan Coast or the oil refineries explosion in Texas. Increased population on the coasts "Eastern Megalopolis" from Boston to Va. Beach. Urban areas have large employment opportunities (Why do you think there are so many commuters here!!)

zThe Future of the region?: We’re Post-Industrial!! We’ll have increasing "Clean Industries" (NAFTA labor) zWill we maintain a World presence?: YES through UN, NATO, military presence z What do YOU think will happen in the future?