1. Physical geography of north America
Mrs. Minks
World Geography & Cultures

2. U.S. & Canada: A region? North America land of immigrants
First peoples, ancestors of Native Americans, came from Asia
In 1500s immigrants from Europe arrived
Later others came from Africa, Asia, & Latin America
Many made this home by choice
Others forced to come as exiles or slaves

3. United States and Canada
Stretch from Pacific to Atlantic
Mountains frame Western and Eastern edges
Central region of vast plains
Dark, fertile soil
Almost all climates, from tundra to desert to tropical wet, can be found

4. Appalachian Mountains
Physical Geography
Plains and Plateaus
Lakes and Rivers
Mountains
Natural Resources
Appalachian Mountains

5. Pacific Ranges Sierra Nevada Cascade Range Coast Range Alaska Range
All caused by tectonic plate collisions
Alaska Range

6. Rocky Mountains Link the US and Canada
More than 3,000 miles from NM to AK

7. In between the Pacific Range and Rocky Mountain Range
Dry basins
Plateaus
Columbia Plateau formed by lava
Eroded Colorado Plateau
Majestic Grand Canyon
Great Basin

8. East of the Rockies Great Plains
300 to 700 miles across the center of the region
Stretch to Mississippi River

9. East of the Mississippi
Land rises into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachians are North America’s oldest mountains

10. Rockies and Appalachians

11. Islands Oceanic islands are volcanic
Hawaii – 8 major and 124 smaller islands
Continental islands are unsubmerged parts of continental shelf
Greenland, world’s largest island

12. Rivers Continental (or Great) Divide – high ridge of the Rockies
Divides determines direction rivers flow
East of Continental Divide waters flow toward Arctic & Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico
West of Divide waters flow to Pacific Ocean

13. Mississippi River One of North America’s longest rivers
Begins in Minnesota as a stream so narrow you can jump across it
Reaches a width of 1.5 miles as it empties into Gulf of Mexico

14. Great Lakes
Glacial dams created Canada’s Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake
Other Great Lakes made by glacier gouging at central section of continent

15. Natural Resources Fossil fuels Minerals Petroleum and natural gas
TX and AK rank 1st and 2nd for petroleum reserves
Coal mined in Appalachians, Wyoming, and British Columbia
Minerals
Rocky Mountains yield gold, silver, & copper
Iron ore in Minnesota and Michigan

16. Timber & Fishing Timber vital resource for US & Canada Fishing
Forests cover about 33% of US, 34% of Canada
Renewable source if….
Fishing
Essential to region’s economy

17. Climate & Vegetation
Very diverse
Wet & dry, bitterly cold, cool & wet

18. Southern Climates Warm and Wet climates Warm and Dry climates
Humid subtropical in SE; long, muggy summers, mild winters
Wetlands and swamps (Everglades)
Last summers hurricanes common
Warm and Dry climates
Between Pacific Ranges and Rocky Mountains
Deserts (Death Valley)

19. Northern Climates Interior Climates Coastal Climates
Great Plains – bitterly cold
Prairies – tornadoes common
Coastal Climates
Lots of rain, overcast winters, cool summers

20. High Latitude Climates
Subarctic with frigid winters (Canada, Alaska)
Winter blizzards
Inhospitable for most plants
Few people live in these areas (Yukon Territory)

21. Why Geography Matters: Story of a Hurricane
August 23 – 24, 2005: Tropical depression forms over Bahamas, becoming Tropical Storm Katrina
August 25: Katrina becomes category 1 hurricane before making landfall in Florida
August 26 – 28: Hovering over Gulf of Mexico, Katrina grows to category 5
August 29: Katrina destroys towns in Louisiana and Mississippi

22. Why Geography Matters: Story of a Hurricane
Katrina was born from a cluster of thunderstorms near the Bahamas. Like other hurricanes, it formed from high humidity, light winds, and water temperatures of at least 80°F. Katrina became the largest hurricane of its strength to ever hit the U.S. With 125 mph winds, gusting to 215 mph, and a 34-foot storm surge, Katrina had the energy of 10,000 nuclear bombs.

23. Hurricane Classification
Category
Wind Speed
Storm Surge
(above normal tide) 1
74-95 mph
4-5 feet 2
mph
6-8 feet 3
mph
9-12 feet 4
mph
13-18 feet 5
Above 155 mph
Above 18 feet

24. Hurricane Katrina

25. The human toll Thousands left battered, displaced, and homeless
Official death toll: 1,833
But months later more than 4,000 people were still unaccounted for
Many still missing

26. Exit Ticket
Why might people not want to leave their homes before a hurricane hits?
Why might people choose to rebuild homes in areas often affected by hurricanes?