Regional Geography and the United States and Canada WG.3b,4

Regions are used to simplify the world for study and understanding

Regional Landscapes Regional landscapes reflect the cultural characteristics of their inhabitants. This can be seen in the architectural structures used in a region, and in the statues and monuments of local, national, or global significance.

Architectural Structures Mosques-Islam

Churches-Christianity

Synagogues (Judaism)

Temples (Buddhism)

Pagodas (Buddhism)

Dwellings (homes) Tiles roofs in the Mediterranean

Chalets in Switzerland

Thatched Roofs

Tents and Yurts

Castles in Europe

Statutes, and Monuments Many have local, national or global significance Taj Mahal

Dome of the Rock and Pyramids

Eiffel Tower and the White House

Examples of other well know monuments Kaaba (Mecca), Western Wall (Jerusalem), Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem), Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Kremlin (Moscow), Statute of Liberty, Virginia State Capital building

Kaaba

Western Wall (Wailing Wall)

Examples of Physical and Cultural Regions Physical regions Sahara, Taiga, Rainforest, Great Plains, Low Countries Cultural regions Language (Latin America, Francophone world)

Ethnic regions (Chinatown, Kurdistan) Religious regions (Islam, Buddhism) Economic regions (Wheat Belt, European Union) Political regions (NATO, African Union {AU}) Changes in perception regions (Middle East, Sun Belt, Rust Belt)

United States and Canada physical characteristics Both nations have abundant natural resources. The Continental Divide sits at the top of the Rocky Mountains and acts as a divider for North America Many important rivers (Mississippi, St. Lawrence, Colorado, Columbia, and Rio Grande)

US and Canada also have other important water features. (Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Hudson Bay)

Important landforms—Aleutian Islands, Hawaiian archipelago, Appalachian Mountains, Pacific Coastal Ranges, Basin and Range region, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Interior Lowlands, Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, Canadian Shield, Grand Canyon

Both have varied climate regions—they range from the tundra in Alaska to a tropical wet climate in Hawaii

US and Canada economic characteristics Both countries are major exporters of technology, consumer goods, information systems, and foodstuffs Both have highly developed infrastructures Both have highly diversified economies

Both have a rich supply of mineral, energy, and forest resources Both are members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Both are home to many multinational corporations

US is the center of the world financial markets (New York Stock Exchange) Both have sustained economic growth Both have a widening gap between the rich and the poor

The US exports our culture via the global marketplace The US exports our culture via the global marketplace. Examples—McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, music, blue jeans

Cultural characteristics of the US and Canada Both countries were originally colonized by countries from Europe Both have multicultural societies Both have increasingly diverse populations

Both have high literacy rates Both have a high standard of living Both are highly urbanized Canada struggles to maintain a national identity Both have highly mobile populations

The world’s largest unfortified border is between the US and Canada Both have a democratic form of government Both are members of NATO Both have arts that reflect the cultural heritage of their multicultural societies

Important cities (centers of culture and trade) Washington DC Chicago New York City Los Angeles Houston Toronto Montreal Ottawa Quebec Vancouver, British Columbia

Examples of the cultural landscape US Capital building Golden Gate Bridge

Independence Hall St. Louis Gateway Arch

Wheat fields Skyscrapers Shopping malls Bilingual signs Influence of automobiles (ex. Gas stations, motels, interstate highways, drive up services)

Human interaction affects the environment Deforestation—examples are the Amazon Basin, Nepal, and Malaysia Acid Rain—example is the Black Forest in Europe Decreased soil fertility—Example is the Aswan High Dam in Egypt

Criteria for determining a countries relative importance Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Land size Population size Resources

How do physical features impact humans Example—Water Rio Grande River is a boundary Ob River flows northward into the Arctic Ocean Zambezi River provides water power Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers are flood hazards

Example—Mountains Rocky Mountains create a rain shadow on the leeward slopes Himalayas block moisture and create steppes and deserts in Central Asia