North America Chapter 5 Physical Geography Chapter 5 Physical Geography

Section 1 Landforms and Resources

Landscape Influenced Development  The U.S. and Canada occupy 4/5 of the continent of North America;  Anglo America: U.S. and Canada are both former British colonies; therefore, most people speak English.  U.S. and Canada have strong political and economic ties with one another.  The U.S. and Canada occupy 4/5 of the continent of North America;  Anglo America: U.S. and Canada are both former British colonies; therefore, most people speak English.  U.S. and Canada have strong political and economic ties with one another.

Vast Land and Abundant Resources  Canada is the 2 nd largest country in land mass and the U.S. is third.  1/8 of the land surface on earth.  Rich in natural resources: fertile soils, large supply of water, forests, and large deposits of a variety of minerals.  The amount of resources have attracted immigrants from around the world and helped both to become global economic powers.  Canada is the 2 nd largest country in land mass and the U.S. is third.  1/8 of the land surface on earth.  Rich in natural resources: fertile soils, large supply of water, forests, and large deposits of a variety of minerals.  The amount of resources have attracted immigrants from around the world and helped both to become global economic powers.

Varied Landforms  U.S. and Canada have all the major types of landforms  They share mountain chains in both the east and the west, and they also share interior plains.  U.S. and Canada have all the major types of landforms  They share mountain chains in both the east and the west, and they also share interior plains.

Eastern Lowlands and Interior Lowlands  The Eastern Lowlands are flat, coastal plains that run along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  The Interior Lowlands includes a terrain of lowlands, rolling hills, lakes and rivers, and some of the world’s most fertile soils.  Interior Plains – extend from Appalachian to Missouri River  Great Plains – extend from Missouri River to Rocky Mountains  Canadian Shield – vast, flat area around Hudson Bay  The Eastern Lowlands are flat, coastal plains that run along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  The Interior Lowlands includes a terrain of lowlands, rolling hills, lakes and rivers, and some of the world’s most fertile soils.  Interior Plains – extend from Appalachian to Missouri River  Great Plains – extend from Missouri River to Rocky Mountains  Canadian Shield – vast, flat area around Hudson Bay

Canadian ShieldGreat Plains

Appalachian Highlands  West of the coastal plain  Green and Catskill Mountains  Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains  Appalachian Mountains – one of the two major mountain chains in the eastern United States and Canada, extending 1,600 miles from Newfoundland south to Alabama  Run North to South  More than 400 million years old  West of the coastal plain  Green and Catskill Mountains  Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains  Appalachian Mountains – one of the two major mountain chains in the eastern United States and Canada, extending 1,600 miles from Newfoundland south to Alabama  Run North to South  More than 400 million years old

The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins  Rocky Mountains – run 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico  80 million years old  Continental Divide – the line of the highest points along the Rockies  Separates rivers that flow eastward from those that flow westward  Earthquakes are frequent in this area  Highest Peak in North America – Mt. McKinley in Alaska  Rocky Mountains – run 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico  80 million years old  Continental Divide – the line of the highest points along the Rockies  Separates rivers that flow eastward from those that flow westward  Earthquakes are frequent in this area  Highest Peak in North America – Mt. McKinley in Alaska

The Appalachian Mountains  The Appalachian Mountains are 400 million years old  They have been eroded by the wind and rain  The top of the mountains are more rounded because of the erosion  The Appalachian Mountains are 400 million years old  They have been eroded by the wind and rain  The top of the mountains are more rounded because of the erosion

The Rocky Mountains оThe Rocky Mountains are only 80 million years old оThey have not been eroded by the wind and rain as much оThe top of the mountains are more pointed because of the lack of time and erosion оThe Rocky Mountains are only 80 million years old оThey have not been eroded by the wind and rain as much оThe top of the mountains are more pointed because of the lack of time and erosion

The Islands  Canada’s Islands are the northern islands: Ellesmere, Victoria and Baffin  The U.S.’s Islands are the Aleutians, which are in Alaska, and the Hawaiian Islands  Canada’s Islands are the northern islands: Ellesmere, Victoria and Baffin  The U.S.’s Islands are the Aleutians, which are in Alaska, and the Hawaiian Islands

Oceans and Waterways  Three oceans: Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific  Both Canada and the U.S. have large rivers and lakes  Provide transportation, hydroelectric power, fisheries, irrigation, and freshwater  Great Lakes : Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie, and Superior  Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio River System : North America’s longest and busiest inland waterway  Mackenzie River : longest river in Canada that crosses over the Northwest Territories  Three oceans: Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific  Both Canada and the U.S. have large rivers and lakes  Provide transportation, hydroelectric power, fisheries, irrigation, and freshwater  Great Lakes : Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie, and Superior  Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio River System : North America’s longest and busiest inland waterway  Mackenzie River : longest river in Canada that crosses over the Northwest Territories

Land, Forests, Minerals, Fossil Fuels  Fertile Soil – helps to make North America the lead food exporter  Large forests provide lumber and other products  Canadian Shield – iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, and gold  Appalachian Mountains and Great Plains – Coal  Gulf of Mexico – oil, natural gas  Fertile Soil – helps to make North America the lead food exporter  Large forests provide lumber and other products  Canadian Shield – iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, and gold  Appalachian Mountains and Great Plains – Coal  Gulf of Mexico – oil, natural gas

Section 2 Climate and Vegetation

Climate Similarities  The U.S. has more climate zones than Canada  Arctic coast is tundra with some permafrost – permanently frozen ground  Rockies and Pacific ranges are highland: colder with little to no vegetation  North central, northeast U.S., and southern Canada are humid continental  The Pacific Coast of North America is a marine west coast climate  The U.S. has more climate zones than Canada  Arctic coast is tundra with some permafrost – permanently frozen ground  Rockies and Pacific ranges are highland: colder with little to no vegetation  North central, northeast U.S., and southern Canada are humid continental  The Pacific Coast of North America is a marine west coast climate

Differences in Climate  The U.S. has milder climates because most of the states are located south of the 40 degrees N latitude  The Southern states and central and southern California  The U.S. has parts of the country that are a dry climate  The Great Plains and the Southwest  The U.S. also has tropical climates  The islands of Hawaii and South Florida  The Everglades – swampland (tall grasses and scattered trees) covering 4,000 square miles, locate in Florida  The U.S. has milder climates because most of the states are located south of the 40 degrees N latitude  The Southern states and central and southern California  The U.S. has parts of the country that are a dry climate  The Great Plains and the Southwest  The U.S. also has tropical climates  The islands of Hawaii and South Florida  The Everglades – swampland (tall grasses and scattered trees) covering 4,000 square miles, locate in Florida

Effects of Weather  Tornado Alley – located in the Great Plains – Warm air clashes with cold air from Canada which creates strong thunderstorms, tornadoes, and blizzards  Hurricanes in the Gulf and Atlantic in the summer and fall  Heavy rains cause flooding along the Mississippi  Heat and a lack of rain can cause droughts, dust storms, and wildfires  Tornado Alley – located in the Great Plains – Warm air clashes with cold air from Canada which creates strong thunderstorms, tornadoes, and blizzards  Hurricanes in the Gulf and Atlantic in the summer and fall  Heavy rains cause flooding along the Mississippi  Heat and a lack of rain can cause droughts, dust storms, and wildfires

Section 3 Human-Environment Interaction

Building Cities  Where a city is built and how it grows depends a great deal on physical setting  Factors that can affect the suitability of a site are landscape, climate, weather, and the availability of natural resources  Water is a major factor in how a city is built and developed  Where a city is built and how it grows depends a great deal on physical setting  Factors that can affect the suitability of a site are landscape, climate, weather, and the availability of natural resources  Water is a major factor in how a city is built and developed

Montreal, Quebec  Canada’s second largest city  Major Port  Located on a large island where the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers meet  The French built a permanent settlement in 1642  Severe winters – large areas developed underground including a network of shops and restaurants  Canada’s second largest city  Major Port  Located on a large island where the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers meet  The French built a permanent settlement in 1642  Severe winters – large areas developed underground including a network of shops and restaurants

Los Angeles, California  Thousands were attracted to the mild climate and the ocean in the early 1900s  Became the second largest city in the U.S. in 1980  Rapid growth brought pollution, inadequate water supplies, and development on earthquake- ridden land  Thousands were attracted to the mild climate and the ocean in the early 1900s  Became the second largest city in the U.S. in 1980  Rapid growth brought pollution, inadequate water supplies, and development on earthquake- ridden land

Trails and Inland Waterways  When the Europeans colonized, they started on the coast and worked their way in  Oregon and Sante Fe Trails  Built canals along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers  Erie Canal – first navigable waterway between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes  St. Lawrence Seaway – deep-water ship route built by U.S. and Canada  Gated off sections called locks raise and lower the water and the ships  Large ocean vessels can get to industrial and agricultural areas  Promotes international trade  When the Europeans colonized, they started on the coast and worked their way in  Oregon and Sante Fe Trails  Built canals along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers  Erie Canal – first navigable waterway between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes  St. Lawrence Seaway – deep-water ship route built by U.S. and Canada  Gated off sections called locks raise and lower the water and the ships  Large ocean vessels can get to industrial and agricultural areas  Promotes international trade

Transcontinental Railroads and the National Highway Systems  Transcontinental – from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast  First continental railroad in the U.S. – 1860; first one in Canada – 1885  Railroads move goods and people; promote economic development and national unity  Automobiles influenced the National Highway system  The U.S. has 4 million miles of roads while Canada has 560,000  Transcontinental – from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast  First continental railroad in the U.S. – 1860; first one in Canada – 1885  Railroads move goods and people; promote economic development and national unity  Automobiles influenced the National Highway system  The U.S. has 4 million miles of roads while Canada has 560,000