1. Physical Geography of the United States and Canada:
A Land of Contrasts
North America’s vast and varied landscape and abundant resources have attracted immigrants and shaped the development of the United States and Canada.
The Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming was formed by erosion. It was named a national monument in 1906.
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2. Looking at the Earth Physical Geography SECTION 1
Landforms and Resources
SECTION 2
Climate and Vegetation
SECTION 3
Human-Environment Interaction
Unit Atlas: Physical
Unit Atlas: Political
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3. Landforms and Resources
Section 1
Landforms and Resources
• The United States and Canada have vast lands and abundant resources.
• These two countries share many of the same landforms.
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4. Landforms and Resources
SECTION
Landforms and Resources 1
Landscape Influenced Development
Anglo America
• U.S., Canada: former British colonies, most people speak English
• Strong economic and political ties with one another
Vast Lands
• Canada second largest country in the world by area; U.S. third
• Together they cover one-eighth of the earth’s land surface
Continued . . .
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5. SECTION 1
continued Landscape Influenced Development
Abundant Resources
• Landmass and natural resources attract immigrants to both countries
• U.S. and Canada have developed into global economic powers
Map
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6. Many and Varied Landforms
SECTION 1
Many and Varied Landforms
Major Landforms
• All major landforms are found in U.S. and Canada
• The two countries share mountain chains and interior plains
Map
The Eastern Lowlands
• Atlantic Coastal Plain extends from Delaware down to Florida
• Gulf Coastal Plain goes from Florida, along Gulf of Mexico, to Texas
• Piedmont—low plateau between coastal plains, Appalachian Highlands
Continued . . .
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7. The Appalachian Highlands
SECTION 1
continued Many and Varied Landforms
The Appalachian Highlands
• Appalachian Mountains run 1,600 miles from Newfoundland to Alabama
- include Green and Catskill mountains in the
north
- Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains in
the south
• More than 400 million years old
• Erosion has created gentle slopes, peaks from 1,200–2,400 feet
• The Appalachian Trail is a scenic hiking path along
the chain
Image
Image
Continued . . .
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8. The Interior Lowlands • Glaciers leveled the land, left fertile soil
SECTION 1
continued Many and Varied Landforms
The Interior Lowlands
• Glaciers leveled the land, left fertile soil
• Interior Plains extend from Appalachians to Missouri River
• Great Plains extend from Missouri River to Rocky Mountains
• Canadian Shield—vast, flat area around Hudson Bay
Image
Continued . . .
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9. The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins
SECTION 1
continued Many and Varied Landforms
The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins
• Rocky Mountains run 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico
• Relatively young: 80 million years old
• Less erosion means rugged, 12,000-foot, snow- covered peaks
• Continental Divide—the line of highest points along the Rockies
- separates rivers that flow eastward from those
that flow westward
Image
Continued . . .
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10. The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins
SECTION 1
continued Many and Varied Landforms
The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins
• Other Pacific mountain ranges: Sierra Nevada, Cascade
• Continent’s highest peak: Mt. McKinley in Alaska
• Major earthquake activity in Pacific ranges
• Between ranges and Rockies: cliffs, canyons, basins (low desert)
Image
The Islands
• Canada’s large, northern islands: Ellesmere, Victoria, Baffin
• U.S.: Aleutians (Alaska), Hawaiian (politically, not geographically)
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11. Resources Shape Ways of Life
SECTION 1
Resources Shape Ways of Life
Oceans and Waterways
• U.S. and Canada are bounded by:
- Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic oceans
- Gulf of Mexico
• Countries have many large, inland rivers and lakes that provide:
- transportation, hydroelectric power, irrigation, fresh water, fisheries
Image
Continued . . .
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12. SECTION 1
continued Resources Shape Ways of Life
Oceans and Waterways
• Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior
• Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio river system: continent’s longest, busiest
• Mackenzie River: longest in Canada, crosses Northwest Territories
Interactive
Continued . . .
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13. Minerals and Fossil Fuels
SECTION 1
continued Resources Shape Ways of Life
Land and Forests
• Fertile soil helps make North America world’s leading food exporter
• Large forests yield lumber and other products
Minerals and Fossil Fuels
• Mineral quantity and variety make rapid industrialization possible
- Canadian Shield: iron ore, nickel, copper, gold, uranium
- Appalachians, Great Plains: coal
- Gulf of Mexico: oil, natural gas
• U.S.: biggest energy consumer; gets most of Canada’s energy exports
Interactive
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14. Climate and Vegetation
Section 2
Climate and Vegetation
• Almost every type of climate is found in the 50 United States because they extend over such a large area north to south.
• Canada’s cold climate is related to its location in the far northern latitudes.
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15. Climate and Vegetation
SECTION
Climate and Vegetation 2
Shared Climates and Vegetation
U.S. and Canada Climates
• U.S. has more climate zones than Canada
• U.S.: moderate mid-latitudes, Canada: colder high latitudes
Map
Colder Climates
• Arctic coast is tundra: huge, treeless plain with long, cold winters
- some permafrost—permanently frozen ground
• Rockies and Pacific ranges are highland: colder, sparse vegetation
- affect weather in lower areas: block Arctic air, trap
Pacific moisture
Continued . . .
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16. SECTION 2
continued Shared Climates and Vegetation
Moderate Climates
• North central, northeast U.S, southern Canada are humid continental
- cold winters; warm summers; heavy agriculture
• Pacific coast has marine west coast climate
- warm summers; long, mild, rainy winters;
mixed vegetation
- climate affected by ocean currents, coastal
mountains, westerlies
- prevailing westerlies—middle-latitude winds
blowing west to east
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17. Differences in Climate and Vegetation
SECTION 2
Differences in Climate and Vegetation
Milder Climates
• Much of U.S. located south of 40 degrees N latitude
- milder, dry, and tropical climates
• Southern states are humid subtropical
- hot summers; mild winters; long growing season
for variety of crops
• Central, southern California coasts have Mediterranean climate
- dry, warm summers; mild, rainy winters; fruits,
vegetables grow well
Continued . . .
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18. Dry Climates Tropical Climates
SECTION 2
continued Differences in Climate and Vegetation
Dry Climates
• Great Plains, northern Great Basin semiarid: dry with short grasses
• Southwest is hot, dry desert, including Mojave and Sonoran deserts
Tropical Climates
• Hawaii is tropical wet: rain forests, temps around 70 degrees F
- Mount Waialeale on Kauai Island is one of the
wettest spots on earth
• South Florida is tropical wet and dry: warm with tall grasses
- Everglades—swampland covering 4,000
square miles
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19. Effects of Extreme Weather
SECTION 2
Effects of Extreme Weather
Natural Hazards
• Warm Gulf air clashes with cold Canadian air over the Great Plains
- creates thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards
• Hurricanes sweep the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in summer and fall
• Heavy rains cause floods along big rivers like the Mississippi
• Heat, lack of rain bring droughts, dust storms, forest fires
Map
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20. Human-Environment Interaction
Section 3
Human-Environment Interaction
• Humans have dramatically changed the face of North America.
• European settlements in the United States and Canada expanded from east to west.
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21. Human-Environment Interaction
SECTION
Human-Environment Interaction 3
Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land
Settlement
• Before humans, land changed due to natural forces: weather, erosion
• Human settlers adapted to, and changed, the environment
• First North Americans were nomads, moving from place to place
- migrated from Asia over Beringia, a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska
- hunted, fished, and gathered plants; settled near rivers and streams
Continued . . .
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22. SECTION 3
continued Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land
Agriculture
• Agriculture replaced hunting and gathering 3,000 years ago
• Settlements became permanent
- cut down trees for houses, plow fields, dig
irrigation ditches
- plant corn, beans, squash
• Today U.S. and Canada are leading agriculture exporters
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23. Building Cities Where Cities Grow Montreal—Adapting to the Weather
SECTION 3
Building Cities
Where Cities Grow
• Water access a major factor in how towns begin, develop
• Other factors: landscape, climate, weather, natural resources
Montreal—Adapting to the Weather
• Canada’s second-largest city; major port located on island in Quebec
- meeting of St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers make it important trade site
• French build permanent settlement in 1642 at base of Mount Royal
• Cold winters force people to stay inside and build underground areas
Image
Continued . . .
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24. Los Angeles—Creating Urban Sprawl
SECTION 3
continued Building Cities
Los Angeles—Creating Urban Sprawl
• Mild climate and the ocean bring thousands to area in early 1900s
- once-small Spanish settlement expanded into
valleys and foothills
• Becomes U.S.’s second-largest city in 1980s
- problems: air pollution, low water supply,
earthquake area
• Los Angeles has spread out over a large area
- city proper: 469 square miles; metropolitan
area: 4,060 square miles
Image
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25. Overcoming Distances Trails and Inland Waterways
SECTION 3
Overcoming Distances
Trails and Inland Waterways
• First natives go east, south down Pacific coast; some remain north
• Europeans colonize the east coast then go inland, creating trails
- national and Wilderness roads, Oregon and Santa Fe trails
- use Mississippi and Ohio rivers; build canals
- Erie Canal—first navigable water link between Atlantic, Great Lakes
Continued . . .
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26. Trails and Inland Waterways
SECTION 3
continued Overcoming Distances
Trails and Inland Waterways
• St. Lawrence Seaway—deepwater ship route built by U.S. and Canada
• Connects Great Lakes to Atlantic by way of St. Lawrence River
• Gated-off sections called locks raise and lower the water and ships
• Large ocean vessels can get to industrial and agricultural heartland
Map
Chart
Continued . . .
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27. Transcontinental Railroads
SECTION 3
continued Overcoming Distances
Transcontinental Railroads
• Transcontinental—from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
• Builders of early-1800s railroads face many natural barriers
- workers cut down forests, bridge streams,
tunnel through mountains
• First U.S. transcontinental railroad: 1860; first Canadian: 1885
• Move goods, people; promote economic development, national unity
• Today U.S. has world’s largest rail system; Canada, third largest
Continued . . .
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28. National Highway Systems
SECTION 3
continued Overcoming Distances
National Highway Systems
• Arrival of automobile spurs roadbuilding in early 20th century
• Today U.S. has 4 million miles of roads, Canada has 560,000 miles
• Large Canadian highways connect major southern cities from east to west
- Trans-Canada Highway: 4,860 miles,
Newfoundland to British Columbia
• U.S. interstate highway system: 46,000-mile network begun in 1950s
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