2. Natural Environments of North America
World Geography Today
4/16/2017
CHAPTER 7
Natural Environments of North America
Section 1: Physical Features
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Section 3: Natural Resources
Chapter 07

3. Section 1 Physical Features
Major landform regions of the United States and Canada generally stretch from north to south.
Going From East to West:
eastern coastal plain
piedmont
Appalachian Mountains
interior plains
Canadian Shield (north of interior plains, around Hudson Bay)
Rocky Mountains
Continental Divide (Rivers)
intermountain region
Pacific Coast region
Alaska and Hawaii

4. Bodies of water: Section 1 Physical Features
Major river systems (East and West)
East Rivers:
Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers
St. Lawrence system
Mackenzie River system
Western rivers:
Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Yukon
Major lakes
Great Lakes
Northern Canada: Athabasca, Great Slave, Great Bear

6. Climates Section 2 Climates and Biomes
tropical wet and dry—southern tip of Florida, parts of Hawaii
humid subtropical—most of southeastern U.S.
humid continental—northeastern U.S., southern and southeastern Canada
semi-arid—Great Plains, parts of intermountain region
highland—Rocky Mountains

7. Climates (continued) Section 2 Climates and Biomes
marine west coast—southeastern Alaska to northern California
Mediterranean—southern and central California
tropical humid—parts of Hawaii
tundra—far northern North America
subarctic—most of Canada and Alaska

8. Biomes Section 2 Climates and Biomes
temperate forest—southeastern U.S. and much of the U.S. and Canadian west
semiarid and desert—much of southwestern U.S.
grassland—interior North America
boreal forest—about half of Canada and Alaska
arctic tundra—northernmost region
tropical—southern Florida and Hawaii

10. Farming, forest, and water resources:
World Geography Today
4/16/2017
Section Natural Resources
Farming, forest, and water resources:
Farming
wide variety of soils and climates
abundant production of crops and livestock
Forests
leading producers of wood and paper
major U.S. forests in southeast and northwest
Water
plentiful supplies (Except SW U.S.)
irrigation and hydroelectric power
coastal waters rich in marine resources
Chapter 07

11. Energy resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada.
Section Natural Resources
Energy resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada.
coal—good supply in both countries; U.S. has a large percentage of world total
oil and natural gas—also plentiful, but U.S. uses more oil than it produces

12. Mineral resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada.
Section Natural Resources
Mineral resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada.
Canada is rich in nickel, zinc, and uranium—especially in the Canadian Shield—and also produces lead, copper, gold, and silver.
U.S. has valuable deposits of iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver.