1. USA and CANADA
Region at a Glance

2. Physical Geography of the United States
Landforms
At over 3.5 million square miles, the United States is the third-largest country in the world.
Glacial activity and tectonic plate movement created the many landforms of the United States.
The Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains mark the western region, with some elevations over 20,000 feet.
The flat landscape of the Great Plains lies in the center.
Going east, the geologically older, but shorter Appalachian Mountains extend to the Piedmont’s fertile plateau, then the Atlantic Coastal Plain hems the shore.

3. Major Landforms USA Vast central plain Mountains in west - Rockies
Hills and low mountains in east - Appalachians
Rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska
Rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
St. Lawrence Seaway: Gateway to the Atlantic from the Great Lakes

4. Physical Geography of the United States
Water Systems
The many lakes, rivers, and tributaries helped encourage economic develop along their shores.
The Mississippi River in the east and the Colorado River and Rio Grande in the west form two major waterways.
The Continental Divide, a high ridge in the Rockies, determines the direction of river flow.

5. Fall line
Higher land of eastern US drops to the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain
Eastern rivers break into rapids and waterfalls
Prevents ships from the Atlantic Ocean from traveling further inland
Big cities were established along the fall line
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.

6. The Great Lakes
Formed when glacier basins filled with water, the Great Lakes are part of the St. Lawrence Seaway System, a series of waterways that connect to the Atlantic Ocean.
Glaciers uncovered major deposits of natural resources- iron ore and coal which led to
Explosive economic growth

7. St. Lawrence Seaway Links Great Lakes with Atlantic Ocean
Ships moving through locks
Links Great Lakes with Atlantic Ocean
Series of canals, rivers, and waterways
Helped make cities like Chicago powerful trade and industrial center

8. Physical Geography of the United States
Climate, Biomes, and Resources
The large size of the United States leads to many variations in climate and vegetation.
The oceans moderate temperature in coastal regions, while the interior experiences more extreme conditions.
Rich in natural resources such as water, timber, fish, minerals, and fossil fuels, the United States helped speed industrialization and become one of the most prosperous countries in the world.

9. Climate Regions USA Mostly temperate However…
Tropical in Hawaii and Florida
Arctic in Alaska
Semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River
Arid in the Great Basin of the southwest

11. Natural Hazards USA Hurricanes in Atlantic and Gulf regions
Earthquakes along the Pacific coasts
Tornadoes and extreme heat events (drought, grass fires) in the interiors

13. Major Modifications in the Region
Erie Canal
St. Lawrence Seaway
Taming the Mississippi
Hoover Dam
Transcontinental Railroads
National Highway System

14. Erie Canal

15. The Erie Canal A canal in New York
Originally ran about 363 miles from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie.
Built to create a navigable water route from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, allowing for grains and meats from the Midwest to get to the east coast via a waterway. History Song

16. The Mississippi River
Flood Control on the Mississippi

18. Levees break In New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina 2005

19. Bonfires on the Levee Louisiana Christmas Eve Celebration

20. Hoover Dam Built to: control floods provide irrigation water
produce hydroelectric power
water storage (resevoir)
recreation
Nevada
Arizona

21. Human Geography of the United States
History and Geography
The physical environment played a significant role in the development of the United States.
Native Americans, descendants of the first waves of migrations- from Asia to Alaska, occupied North America until the Europeans began immigrating in the 1500s.
Spanish, French, and then British migrations.

22. After gaining independence, during the 1800s, the country nearly doubled in territory, gaining valuable land and resources.
Factories were built in along the fall line in northeast
Cotton- major cash crop in the south.
Two major conflicts during this time period: American Revolution, Civil War

23. Historical Geography of the USA
18th century – Thirteen colonies
1803 – Louisiana purchase
1840s – Mexican cession and Texas
1840s – Gold rush
1850s to 1890s – Westward expansion
1898 – Hawaii
1945 to Present – Postwar sunbelt explosion

24. Westward Expansion
New immigrants- Europe, Mexico, China that came to the US during Industrial Revolution needed land
Cities needed more food
Transcontinental Railroad helped with all of these things
During this time people
Moved from farms to cities looking for work

25. Political Geography of United States
3rd largest country by size (after Russia and Canada)
3rd largest population (after China and India) = 310,232,863 (July 2010 est.)
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Most powerful military in the world – Nearly half of global military spending is done for the US military alone. Only 4% of GNP, though.

26. What religion dominates The United States?

27. Religious & Cultural Landscape

28. Language
Needs some examples of language (words)

29. Human Geography of the United States
Population Patterns
More than 315 million people live in the United States.
The aging of the population will cause challenges in government and health care costs.
Population is increasing in Sunbelt states as manufacturing has declined in the North and Great Lakes region—factories are closing and sending work to China and other countries (Outsourcing). . . People are moving from north to sunbelt looking for jobs.
Densely populated urban areas like the megalopolis between Boston and Washington, D.C. attract residents with economic opportunity.

30. What do the megalopolises have in common?

31. Population Geography of USA

32. Where are the areas of population density?

33. Human Geography of the United States
Society and Culture Today
With its long history of immigration, the population of the United States is one of the most diverse countries in the world.
This diverse population, coupled with the core value of religious freedom, contributed to the wide range of religions practiced today.
The family remains important but the role of women is changing as more women seek employment and continue to outpace men in earning college degrees.
Art and music, like jazz, developed by blending the influences of the country’s vast immigrant communities.
Jazz blended African American rhythms and European harmonies.

34. Human Geography of the United States
Economic Activities
The free market economy in the United States helped establish its great economic power.
The economy has evolved from its agricultural origins to manufacturing to the postindustrial economy of today.– services and technology have replaced farming and factories
Good transportation and reliable communications networks are critical pieces that enable the economy to function.
Too many mortgages were given to people who could not afford to pay them. Homes went into foreclosure, caused some banks to fail, or led to government bailouts of banks. At same time unemployment rose.

35. People and Their Environment: The United States
Managing Resources
Modern life poses a threat to the abundant natural resources in the United States.
Conservation efforts by citizens and from all levels of government have increased to ensure resources will continue to flourish in the future.
Resource management includes understanding and respecting the balances that exist in natural ecosystems.
Efforts to reverse the damage have begun but more is needed to achieve sustainable levels.

36. People and Their Environment: The United States
Human Impact
Acid rain and smog are consequences of human pollution of the air and water.
Water pollution speeds eutrophication, which encourages the excessive algae growth that depletes water’s oxygen and suffocates fish.
Projected water shortages could turn into droughts that cause billions of dollars in crop and livestock losses.

37. People and Their Environment: The United States
Addressing the Issues
The United States is continually improving its protection of the environment by using clean-air practices, searching for renewable sources of energy, and reducing waste.
Federal legislation, such as the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, has helped restore water quality throughout the country.
The government is working to curb environmental damage by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and offering incentives for companies to limit emissions.