Physical Geography of the United States and Canada.

Physical Physical Geography of the Geography of the United States United States and Canadaand Canada

Landforms and Landforms and ResourcesResources

Canada is the 2Canada is the 2ndnd largest country in the largest country in the worldworld

The United States is The United States is the 3the 3rdrd largest country largest country

Landforms and Landforms and ResourcesResources

Extend from the Atlantic Extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the Artic Ocean and from the Artic Ocean to the Gulf of Ocean to the Gulf of MexicoMexico

Landforms and Landforms and ResourcesResources

Both countries rich in Both countries rich in natural resources:natural resources:Fertile soilFertile soilAmple water supplyAmple water supplyVast forestsVast forestsVariety of mineralsVariety of minerals

Many and Varied Many and Varied LandformsLandforms

The Eastern LowlandsThe Eastern Lowlands Flat coastal plains that runs along Flat coastal plains that runs along

the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexicothe Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico PiedmontPiedmont: low plateau between : low plateau between

the Eastern Lowlands and the the Eastern Lowlands and the Appalachian mountainsAppalachian mountainsContains many fast-flowing Contains many fast-flowing riversrivers

Many and Varied Many and Varied LandformsLandforms

Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains West of the coastal plainWest of the coastal plain 1,600 miles long from 1,600 miles long from

Newfoundland to AlabamaNewfoundland to Alabama Several mountain rangesSeveral mountain ranges

Green and Catskill in the NorthGreen and Catskill in the NorthBlue Ridge and Great Smoky Blue Ridge and Great Smoky in Southin South

Many and Varied Many and Varied LandformsLandforms

The Interior LowlandsThe Interior LowlandsCovers interior of North Covers interior of North AmericaAmerica

Flattened by glaciersFlattened by glaciers Interior plainsInterior plainsGreat PlainsGreat PlainsCanadian ShieldCanadian Shield

Many and Varied Many and Varied LandformsLandforms

Western Mountains, Plateaus, Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basinsand Basins Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains Continental DivideContinental Divide Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada Cascade RangeCascade Range North America’s highest peak North America’s highest peak

= Mt. McKinley= Mt. McKinley

Many and Varied Many and Varied LandformsLandforms

The IslandsThe Islands Ellesmere, Ellesmere,

Victoria, Victoria, Baffin Islands Baffin Islands

Aleutian Aleutian IslandsIslands

Hawaiian Hawaiian IslandsIslands

Oceans and WaterwaysOceans and Waterways

Great LakesGreat Lakes Mississippi River = Mississippi River =

longest in continentlongest in continent Mackenzie River = Mackenzie River =

Canada’s longest riverCanada’s longest river

Land and ForestsLand and Forests

North America is the world’s North America is the world’s leading food exporterleading food exporterMuch of this agricultural Much of this agricultural land is found in the plains land is found in the plains region and in river valleysregion and in river valleys

1/2 of Canada and 1/3 of the 1/2 of Canada and 1/3 of the U.S. is covered by forestsU.S. is covered by forests

Minerals and Fossil FuelsMinerals and Fossil Fuels

Canada = iron ore, nickel, Canada = iron ore, nickel, copper, gold, uraniumcopper, gold, uranium

Both countries = coal, Both countries = coal, natural gas, oil, energy natural gas, oil, energy producing fossil fuelsproducing fossil fuels

Climate and VegetationClimate and Vegetation

Shared Climates and Shared Climates and VegetationVegetation

Colder ClimatesColder Climates Artic coast of Alaska and CanadaArtic coast of Alaska and Canada Winters = long and bitterly coldWinters = long and bitterly cold Summers = brief and chillySummers = brief and chilly Rocky Mountains and Pacific Rocky Mountains and Pacific

Ranges = highland climate and Ranges = highland climate and vegetationvegetation

Shared Climates and Shared Climates and VegetationVegetation

Moderate ClimatesModerate ClimatesHumid continentalHumid continentalPacific west coastPacific west coastPrevailing Westerlies- winds Prevailing Westerlies- winds that blow from west to east that blow from west to east in the middle latitudesin the middle latitudes

Differences in Climate and Differences in Climate and VegetationVegetation

Milder climatesMilder climatesLong growing season for Long growing season for variety of cropsvariety of crops

Dry ClimatesDry ClimatesGreat Plains and northern Great Plains and northern part of Great Basinpart of Great Basin

Differences in Climate and Differences in Climate and VegetationVegetation

Tropical ClimatesTropical ClimatesHawaii and Southern Hawaii and Southern FloridaFlorida

Florida EvergladesFlorida Everglades

Human Environment Human Environment InteractionInteraction

Settlement and Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Agriculture Alter the

LandLand First inhabitants were First inhabitants were

nomadsnomads; people who move ; people who move from place to placefrom place to placeBeringiaBeringia: land bridge that : land bridge that once connected Siberia once connected Siberia and Alaskaand Alaska

Settlement Agriculture Settlement Agriculture Alter the LandAlter the Land

Early settlements became Early settlements became permanent about 3,000 permanent about 3,000 years agoyears agoAgricultureAgricultureChanged the landscape to Changed the landscape to meet their needsmeet their needs

Building CitiesBuilding Cities

Montreal, Quebec (1642): Montreal, Quebec (1642): Canada’s 2Canada’s 2ndnd largest city and a largest city and a major portmajor port

Los Angeles: 2Los Angeles: 2ndnd most populous most populous city in U.S.city in U.S.Metropolitan area spreads over Metropolitan area spreads over 4,060 square miles4,060 square miles

Overcoming DistancesOvercoming Distances

Trails and Inland WaterwaysTrails and Inland WaterwaysSt. Lawerence Seaway: St. Lawerence Seaway: N.A.’s most important N.A.’s most important deepwater ship routedeepwater ship routeConnects Great Lakes to Connects Great Lakes to AtlanticAtlantic

Oregon and Santa Fe trailsOregon and Santa Fe trails

Overcoming DistancesOvercoming Distances

Transcontinental RailroadsTranscontinental Railroads11stst one completed in U.S. one completed in U.S. in 1869in 1869

Trans-Canada railroad Trans-Canada railroad completed in 1885completed in 1885

Overcoming DistancesOvercoming Distances National Highway National Highway

SystemsSystems Trans-Canada Trans-Canada

HighwayHighway U.S. interstate U.S. interstate

system is a system is a network of more network of more than 46,000 than 46,000 miles of highwaymiles of highway