1. Unit 2: The United States and Canada
Physical Geography

2. Landforms and Resources

3. Landscape
United States and Canada are located in North America, in the Western Hemisphere. They are both part of the Northern Hemisphere.
Oceans surrounding these two countries are the Atlantic (East Coast) and Pacific (West Coast)
Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world, America is the 3rd .

5. Resources

6. Landforms Eastern Lowlands
Flat, coastal plain along Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

7. Landforms Appalachian Highlands Appalachian Mountains
1600 miles from Newfoundland, Canada to Alabama
Green, Catskill, Blue Ridge, Great Smoky
Peaks about ft

8. Landforms Interior Lowlands Interior Plains Great Plains Appalachians
Canadian Shield

9. Landforms Western Mountains, Plateaus, Basins Rocky Mountains
Continental Divide
Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges
Denali/Mt. McKinley is the tallest peak on the continent
Earthquakes common

10. Landforms The Islands Canadian islands near Arctic Circle
Aleutian Islands located off of Alaska
Hawaiian Islands
A state of America but located in the Pacific (ie not part of North America)

11. Oceans and Waterways Atlantic Pacific Gulf of Mexico
Great Lakes- HOMES
Mississippi River (USA)
Mackenzie river (Canada)

12. Land and Forests Some of the most fertile soil in the world
North America is the world’s leading food exporter
½ of Canada is covered in forest
US has more varieties of trees

13. Minerals and Fossil Fuels
Iron ore
Nickel
Copper
Gold
Uranium
Silver
Coal
Natural Gas
Oil

14. Climate and Vegetation

15. Climates and Vegetation
Colder Climates
Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada have tundra climate
Long, cold winters
Brief, chilly summers
Permafrost

16. Climate and Vegetation
Moderate Climates
Humid continental climate
Winters are cold, summers warm
Very productive agricultural area
Diary, grain, livestock

17. Climate and Vegetation
Milder Climates
Humid subtropical climate: summers are hot and muggy, winters are short and cool
Long growing seasons
Mediterranean: summers are dry, sunny, warm. Winters can be cool and rainy.

18. Climate and Vegetation
Dry Climates
Great Plains and Great Basin
15 inches of rain a year
Short grasses and shrubs
Desert climate

19. Climate and Vegetation
Tropical Climates
Hawaii and southern Florida
Rain forests
Lots of rain, warm temperatures
Everglades (FL)

20. Human-Environment Interaction

21. Agriculture and Cities
North America is the #1 producer of food world wide
The soil and varying climates of North America have made agriculture a huge success
Both America and Canada have urbanized…how they perceive space varies between the countries

23. Overcoming Distances
Waterways
Transcontinental RR
Highway System