1. North American Physical Geography
Yes, this includes our neighbor to the North…Canada.

2. LEMPOSA…for North America
For this section, you will need to reference your LEMPOSA notes from the first six weeks…please take them out of your binder. I will give you 3-4 minutes to read them over to refresh your memory.
Latitude:
South Texas is warmer than North Texas, why?
Far North Canada, is much colder than South Texas, why?

3. Elevation
At the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it is very hot and dry. Near the top is much colder. Why?

4. Mountain Barrier Effect
California is lush on the West Coast, and a desert (Nevada) on the leeward side of the mountain.
Nevada is over HERE

5. LEMPOSA
Proximity to Water: Water moderates temperatures so you don’t experience the “4 seasons” like you would if you were interior, like Kansas.
Ocean Currents: Water cools off slower than land, so the cool water surrounding the West Coast, helps keep it from becoming as hot as other places with similar latitudes.

6. Storms
Tornadoes: Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are prone to Tornadoes in the Spring and the Fall.
Hurricanes: common on the East Coast
What other Natural Disasters can you think of? How do they change the overall climate of an area?

7. Important Mountain Ranges & Waterways
Major Waterways
Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio river system
Mackenzie River
Columbia River
Rio Grande River
Colorado River
St. Lawrence Seaway
Mountain Ranges
Rocky Mountains
Appalachian Mountains

8. Rocky Mountains Largest & youngest! mountain range in North America.
Higher than the Appalachian Mountains.
Stretches from Alaska to Mexico.

9. Appalachian Mountains
Curves west along the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
Runs from eastern Canada to western Alabama.
Oldest mountain range on the continent.

11. The Mississippi: America’s Great River Road
Longest River in North America

12. Grand Canyon
Carved out by the Colorado River over a 5 million year time span.
Over 1 mile deep
Recent estimates say that the canyon is over 17 m yrs old
Continental Divide:
Separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific from those that drain into the Atlantic .

13. Great Salt Lake (Utah)
6 times saltier than the oceans!

14. Canadian Shield
A very thin layer of soil lying on top of the bedrock, with many bare outcrops.
Is a result of glaciation.
The CS is rich in mineral deposits, scarcely populated.

15. Death Valley, CA 3,000 sq miles
Lowest, hottest & driest place in N. America

16. US & Canadian Physical Geography
Resources
Both U.S. and Canada have huge mineral and fossil fuel resources
Forest lands cover about 1/3 of the U.S. and ½ of Canada
Climate & Vegetation
Canada’s climates and vegetation are related to its far northern location.
The U.S. includes regions that are in almost every climate and vegetation zone

17. Canadian Provinces & Territories
Canada = 10 Provinces & 3 Territories.
Major Cities: Quebec, Toronto & Montreal
Capital City: Ottawa
Quebec (province): former French colony, that still has strong cultural ties to France.
Nunavut: territory given to Inuit population (Natives).