1. North America
UNIT 2

3. The Physical Geography of The United States & Canada
The Land

5. Landforms Western Mountains and Plateaus
*young rugged mountains caused by “recent” tectonic activity
-Pacific Ranges: Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, the Coast Range, and the Alaska Range (Mt. McKinley-20,320)
-Rocky Mountains: link Canada & US
-Dry basins and plateaus featuring Death Valley and the grand Canyon, fill the area between the mountain ranges

6. Eastern Mountains & Lowlands
Interior Landforms
Eastern Mountains & Lowlands
East of the Rockies, the land falls and flattens into the Great Plains which extends across the center of North America
The Appalachians are North America’s oldest mountains & they stretch from Quebec to Alabama
The Canadian Shield is a giant core of rock that makes up the eastern ½ of Canada and northeastern US

8. Islands North American Islands: -Manhattan -Hawaiian Islands
-Greenland
-St. Ellesmere Island (Canada)

11. A Fortune in Water Rivers from the Rockies:
-Water from the continental divide created by the Rockies flows east and west downhill emptying into the Pacific to the west and the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico to the east

12. The Mighty Mississippi: One of N. Americas longest rivers (2,350 mi
The Mighty Mississippi: One of N. Americas longest rivers (2,350 mi.) beginning in Minnesota and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. It drains all or part of 31 states and 2 provinces. Important commercial waterway
Eastern Rivers:
St. Lawrence Waterway: forms border between US & Canada
Important for commercial use

14. Lakes (Caused by receding glaciers)
Canadian Lakes
Great Bear Lake
Great Slave Lake
US Lakes
The Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Erie, Michigan, Ontario & Huron
St. Lawrence River links Great lakes to Atlantic Ocean

17. Natural Resources Fuels: fossil fuels and minerals
Minerals: Gold, silver and copper in Rocky Mts, Nickel and iron in Canadian Shield. Iron ore in parts of N. Minnesota and Michigan. Canada supplies much of the world with potash, copper and silver
Timber: forests cover less than 50% of Canada and 30% of US. Commercial Logging is still big business
Fishing: abundant along coast lines

18. Climates Zones of North America

19. Climate Varied Regions:
2/3 of Canada and US have long cold winters and short mild summers. Most of the continental US and the southern 1/3 of Canada have temperate climates, depending on elevation. Hawaii in the South Pacific has a tropical climate

20. Climates Zones of North America

21. Northern Climates
Much of Canada and US is in a sub-arctic climate zone
Bitter winters and cool summers in the tundra along the arctic coastline make most of this land unsuitable for life

22. Western Climates Marine West Coast
-Mild climate, high precipitation (100”/year).
Plateaus, Basins, & Deserts
Region between Rockies and Pacific Ranges includes deserts and steppes. Hot & dry climate
Elevation gives the higher reaches of the region a highland climate. Forests give way to moderate vegetation; dry chinook wind thaws the snow at the base of the mountains

24. Interior Climates Prairies: Humid Continental Climate
treeless expanses of land across mid America.
Grasses can grow up to 12 feet high.
Rainfall ranges from 10-30”/year

26. Eastern Climates Southeast: Humid subtropical climate
Deciduous forests, much have been cleared for farmland
Wetlands and swamps
Northeast:
Humid continental climate
Bands of deciduous and mixed forestland
Harsh winters with strong Atlantic storms

28. Tropical Climate
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the southern tip of Florida have tropical climates
Southern Florida has a tropical savanna area
Hawaii and Puerto Rico have areas of Tropical Rain Forests

29. The End!