1. Regional Geography and the United States and Canada
WG.3b,4

2. Regions are used to simplify the world for study and understanding

3. Regional Landscapes
Regional landscapes reflect the cultural characteristics of their inhabitants. This can be seen in the architectural structures used in a region, and in the statues and monuments of local, national, or global significance.

4. Architectural Structures Mosques-Islam

5. Churches-Christianity

6. Synagogues (Judaism)

7. Temples (Buddhism)

8. Pagodas (Buddhism)

9. Dwellings (homes)
Tiles roofs in the Mediterranean

10. Chalets in Switzerland

11. Thatched Roofs

12. Tents and Yurts

13. Castles in Europe

14. Statutes, and Monuments
Many have local, national or global significance
Taj Mahal

15. Dome of the Rock and Pyramids

16. Eiffel Tower and the White House

17. Examples of other well know monuments
Kaaba (Mecca), Western Wall (Jerusalem), Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem), Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Kremlin (Moscow), Statute of Liberty, Virginia State Capital building

18. Kaaba

19. Western Wall (Wailing Wall)

20. Examples of Physical and Cultural Regions
Physical regions
Sahara, Taiga, Rainforest, Great Plains, Low Countries
Cultural regions
Language (Latin America, Francophone world)

21. Ethnic regions (Chinatown, Kurdistan)
Religious regions (Islam, Buddhism)
Economic regions (Wheat Belt, European Union)
Political regions (NATO, African Union {AU})
Changes in perception regions
(Middle East, Sun Belt, Rust Belt)

22. United States and Canada physical characteristics
Both nations have abundant natural resources.
The Continental Divide sits at the top of the Rocky Mountains and acts as a divider for North America
Many important rivers (Mississippi, St. Lawrence, Colorado, Columbia, and Rio Grande)

23. US and Canada also have other important water features.
(Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Hudson Bay)

24. Important landforms—Aleutian Islands, Hawaiian archipelago, Appalachian Mountains, Pacific Coastal Ranges, Basin and Range region, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Interior Lowlands, Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, Canadian Shield, Grand Canyon

25. Both have varied climate regions—they range from the tundra in Alaska to a tropical wet climate in Hawaii

26. US and Canada economic characteristics
Both countries are major exporters of technology, consumer goods, information systems, and foodstuffs
Both have highly developed infrastructures
Both have highly diversified economies

27. Both have a rich supply of mineral, energy, and forest resources
Both are members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Both are home to many multinational corporations

28. US is the center of the world financial markets (New York Stock Exchange)
Both have sustained economic growth
Both have a widening gap between the rich and the poor

29. The US exports our culture via the global marketplace
The US exports our culture via the global marketplace. Examples—McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, music, blue jeans

30. Cultural characteristics of the US and Canada
Both countries were originally colonized by countries from Europe
Both have multicultural societies
Both have increasingly diverse populations

31. Both have high literacy rates
Both have a high standard of living
Both are highly urbanized
Canada struggles to maintain a national identity
Both have highly mobile populations

32. The world’s largest unfortified border is between the US and Canada
Both have a democratic form of government
Both are members of NATO
Both have arts that reflect the cultural heritage of their multicultural societies

33. Important cities (centers of culture and trade)
Washington DC
Chicago
New York City
Los Angeles
Houston
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
Quebec
Vancouver, British Columbia

34. Examples of the cultural landscape
US Capital building
Golden Gate Bridge

35. Independence Hall
St. Louis Gateway Arch

36. Wheat fields
Skyscrapers
Shopping malls
Bilingual signs
Influence of automobiles (ex. Gas stations, motels, interstate highways, drive up services)

37. Human interaction affects the environment
Deforestation—examples are the Amazon Basin, Nepal, and Malaysia
Acid Rain—example is the Black Forest in Europe
Decreased soil fertility—Example is the Aswan High Dam in Egypt

38. Criteria for determining a countries relative importance
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Land size
Population size
Resources

39. How do physical features impact humans
Example—Water
Rio Grande River is a boundary
Ob River flows northward into the Arctic Ocean
Zambezi River provides water power
Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers are flood hazards

40. Example—Mountains
Rocky Mountains create a rain shadow on the leeward slopes
Himalayas block moisture and create steppes and deserts in Central Asia