Regional Geography of North America

Appalachian Region Mountainous East Coast Fold Mountains Formed years ago! Erosion Fertile Plateaus and river valleys Deposits of coal, oil and gas in the layers of rock

Appalachian continued… Climate affected by Labrador Current & Gulf Stream Perfect breeding ground for fish! Originally covered coniferous and deciduous trees that could survive the poor soil

Coastal Plains Lowland area with streams More than 50% is less than 30 m above sea level Flat & gently rolling Swamps & marshes Transportation, agricultural lands, shellfish and aquatic life forms.

Coastal Plains cont…. The North has cold and snowy winters and warm, humid summers The south has mild to warm winters and is subject to hurricanes Sandy soil was originally covered with pine forests.

Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands Escarpements Rolling landscape created mainly by glaciation Flat plains are broken by hills and deep river valleys Humid continental climate

Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands cont…. Very fertile soil Mixed forest with maple, beech, oak, ash, birch, spruce, fir, pine and cedar trees Mixed farming which includes vineyards, apple orchards and dairy farms.

Interior Plains Vast plains, but is not entirely flat Rolling hills and river valleys Continental climate Extremes means hot winters and cold summers Often subjected to tornadoes during March and June

Interior Plains cont… Prairie grasses Originally covered with mixed deciduous trees

Canadian Shield More than 2 billion years old! Volcanic mountains that were leveled by glaciation. Covers more than 50% of Canada’s surface Primarily it is a platform of rocks.

Canadian Shield cont… Chaotic pattern of rivers, lakes, swamps and muskegs Climate varies based on location Mining is a major activity Lead, copper, gold, zinc and nickel Trees are small and weak

Western Cordillera West coast Mountain ranges Coastal mountains are volcanic Rocky mountains are fold Rocky mountains are twice as high as the Appalachian mtns.

Western Cordillera cont… Maritime climate Moist and mild Moderated by the water of the Pacific ocean Vegetation varies greatly on either side of the mountains

Western Cordillera cont… Windward slope have enormous Douglas fir, Western hemlock and Western red Cedar The leeward slope has grasses and cacti The top of the mountains is similar to the tundra

Intermountain Region Plateaus and isolated mountains Contains the only deserts in the USA Many streams and river never each the sea, but flow into brackish lakes or disappear into the desert.

Intermountain Region Cont… Cattle ranching Climate depends on the region Vegetation ranges from grassland, desert plants and thin pine forests Rain-shadow effect!!

Arctic Very Few life forms other than lichen can grow on the mtns. Permafrost means that small shrubs, mosses and lichen grow in the tundra Water & sewage is carried above ground

Arctic cont… Combination of lowlands & mountains Mountains formed by folding and are covered by glaciers Climate is very severe Winter last for 10 months! Little precipitation means the arctic is actually a desert!!!!