1. Natural Environments of North America
World Geography Today
4/22/2017
Natural Environments of North America
Preview
Section 1: Physical Features
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Section 3: Natural Resources
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 7

2. Section 1: Physical Features
World Geography Today
4/22/2017
Section 1: Physical Features
Read to Discover
What are the major landform regions in the United States and Canada?
What rivers and lakes are found in the region?
Chapter 7

3. Section 1: Physical Features
Question
What are the various landform regions of the United States and Canada?

4. Section 1: Physical Features
Landform Regions of North America
Region
Location
Description
Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain
Along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
Long coastal plain, begins at sea level and gradually rises
Piedmont
Alabama to New Jersey
Upland region at the foot of the Appalachians
Appalachian Highlands
Alabama to southeastern Canada
Several ranges, valleys, and ridges; low, eroded mountains
Interior Plains
Between Appalachians and Rocky Mountains
Rolling hills, many rivers and lakes, productive soils
Interior Highlands
Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma
Old, eroded highlands

5. Section 1: Physical Features
Landform Regions of North America
Region
Location
Description
Great Plains
South-central Canada to Texas and Mexico
High plains, subregion of interior plains
Canadian Shield
Arctic Ocean to Atlantic coast
Ancient rock, heavily glaciated, little soil
Rocky Mountains
New Mexico to Canada
Several high and rugged ranges
Intermountain Basins and Plateaus
Between Rockies and coastal mountain ranges
High plateaus, deep canyons, isolated mountain ranges, desert basins
Pacific Mountains and Valleys
Along Pacific coast
Two mountain ranges separated by a series of valleys

6. Section 1: Physical Features
World Geography Today
4/22/2017
Section 1: Physical Features
Major landform regions of the United States and Canada generally stretch from north to south.
Listed from east to west the regions are:
• Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain • Great Plains
• Piedmont • Rocky Mountains
• Appalachian Highlands • Intermountain Region
• Interior Plains • Pacific Coast Region
• Canadian Shield • Alaska and Hawaii
Chapter 7

7. Section 1: Physical Features
Bodies of Water
Major river systems
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

8. Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Read to Discover
Which climate types are found in the United States and Canada?
What are the major biomes of the region, and where are they found?

9. Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Question
What are the locations of the different climate types in the United States and Canada?

10. Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Climate Types of North America
Tropical Humid
Eastern Hawaii
Tropical Wet and Dry
Very tip of Florida, western Hawaii
Humid Subtropical
Southeast United States
Humid Continental
Northeast United States and southeastern Canada
Semiarid
Great Plains, western mountains
Arid
Areas east of Sierra Nevada and Cascades
Highland
Rocky Mountains
Marine West Coast
Southern Alaska through northern California
Mediterranean
Southern and central California
Subarctic
Northern Canada and Alaska
Tundra
Northern Alaska to Newfoundland and Quebec

11. 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

12. Section 3: Natural Resources
Read to Discover
What farming, forest, and water resources are found in the United States and Canada?
How rich is the region in energy and mineral resources?

13. Section 3: Natural Resources
Question
What natural resources can be found in North America?

14. Section 3: Natural Resources Resources of North America
Forest
Water
Agriculture
Energy
Minerals
Large forests and tree farms
Lumber, newsprint, pulpwood, and other products
Leading producers and exporters
Allow for irrigation and hydro- electricity production
Rich fisheries along coasts
Large area
Good climates for farming
Fertile soils
Provide enough food to feed population and leave a surplus
Huge coal reserves
Major oil producer, but still must import
Rich in natural gas
Nickel, zinc, uranium, lead, copper, gold, and silver in Canada
Iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, and other minerals in United States

15. Section 3: Natural 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
Irrigation and hydroelectric power
Coastal waters rich in marine resources

16. Section 3: Natural Resources
Energy
Coal—Good supply in both U.S. and Canada; U.S. has 25 percent of world total; generally thick deposits located in unpopulated areas
Oil and Natural Gas—Also plentiful, but U.S. uses more oil than it produces

17. Section 3: Natural Resources
Minerals
Canada is rich in minerals—especially in the Canadian Shield—and produces nickel, zinc, uranium, lead, copper, gold, diamonds, and silver.
The United States has valuable deposits of iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver.

18. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
World Geography Today
4/22/2017
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
What physical process forms barrier islands? Where are they found in North America?
What evidence of tectonic forces will you find in western areas of the United States and Canada?
What can happen when different air masses come in contact with one another over the Great Plains?
What major factors influence climates in the United States? How does nearness to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean influence the humid continental climate region of the northeastern United States?
About 25 percent of the world’s reserves of which energy resource are found in the United States?
Chapter 7