North America Physical Geography

Landforms

Coastal Plains Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain: runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico Atlantic: begins in northeastern United States and extends southward into Florida Gulf of Mexico: extends along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida into Texas Flat 2,200 miles Mostly wet region Includes rivers, swamps, marshes, deltas, and bayous

Appalachian Mountains On East coast One of two major mountain chains in the U.S. and Canada Runs North to South 1,600 miles from Canada to Alabama More than 400 million years old

Great Lakes Located on border between U.S. and Canada HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. One of the world’s major shipping routes

Mississippi River Runs North to South from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Branches off into major rivers: Ohio River and Missouri River Largest river system in the U.S. About 2,320 miles long

Great Plains Large, treeless, flat area West of the Mississippi River and East of the Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains West of the Great Plains Other major mountain system in the U.S. and Canada Extends 3,000 miles from Alaska south to New Mexico About 80 million years old Peaks can be more than 12,000 feet high

Continental Divide The line of highest points in the Rockies that marks the separation between rivers flowing eastward and westward. There are 4 in North America

Colorado River Southwestern United States Carved the Grand Canyon 1,450 miles long

Grand Canyon Located in Arizona Carved by Colorado River 227 miles long In some areas, 18 miles wide 6,000 feet deep Major tourist attraction

Climate and Vegetation

Shared Climates Regions: Sub Arctic, Marine West Coast, and Highland Why is Canada’s climate colder than the United States’?

Different Climates Tundra – arctic coast of Alaska and Canada Winters are long and cold Summers are short and chilly Treeless plain Permafrost – permanently frozen ground Mountains and Highlands Climate is colder Rocky Mts. are in this area Area west of mountains are moist because they trap moisture from Pacific Ocean Vegetation- forest

Different Climates Cont’d Canada/U.S. Border Cold winters and warm summers Vegetation – forests and grasslands Good for farming and ranching Heavy Canadian population Southern United States Summers – hot and humid Winters – mild and cool Moist air from Gulf of Mexico causes rain Rain is great for growing crops!

Different Climates Cont’d Desert region Vegetation – short grass, cactus States with desert climate: New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Nevada Mojave Desert located here Tropical Region Wet climate with lush rainforests Usually warm with wet/dry seasons Vegetation – tall grasses and scattered trees States with tropical climate: Florida and Hawaii