Chapter 1 Region: United States and Canada

Geographer’s must consider: 1. The world in spatial terms (location) 2. Regions 3. Physical Systems 4. Human Systems 5. Environment and Society (interrelationship) 6. Uses of geography (how the information and data is attained and used) Geography: the study of earth’s physical features and the living things which inhabit it.

Absolute Location: the exact location (spot) in which a place is found on earth.

Grid System: Longitude and Latitude Hemispheres: two halves - Equator (0 degrees) - Prime Meridian (0 degrees)

Region: area united by specific factor.

Maps

U.S. and Canada: 12% of land Advantages: Fresh Water Supply Fuels: Natural Gas, Oil, and Coal Minerals: Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, and Nickel Vast Forests- Timber (50% has been cut down) Ocean Access- Fisheries (not landlocked)

Natural Gas

Coal Reserves

Athabasca Oil Sands

Peak Oil: the maximum of oil production/extraction is reached.

Immigration Due to the physical divide caused by the Atlantic and Pacific, the Native populations were relatively small. Current populations are primarily based off of immigrant populations. less than.9% in the U.S. and 2% in Canada is native.

Population Distribution Canada: Most of the Canadian population is along the U.S. and Canadian Border U.S.: Sunbelt: the southwest growth boom due to...? Coastal Populations: East, West, and Southern Gulf Megalopolis: chain of metropolitan areas which share a similar infrastructure.

Megalopolis: Chain of metropolitan areas which share a similar infrastructure.

Economics Both are mixed markets post-industrial: most of their economic activities are no longer manufacturing, but based in service industries. Created the Rustbelt and retooling. agriculture: most crops are grown as commodities, and not for sustenance. Cornbelt: Ohio through Nebraska

Rust belt Retooling: Adapt an industrial facility to produce a new product.

Politics U.S.- Federalism, Republic Canada- Parliamentary Democracy, limited power to 13 provinces.