Physical Geography

of the United

States and Canada

Physical Map of North

America

Basic Facts Canada is the 2nd largest

country in the world The United States is the 3rd

largest country (Russia is the largest) Extend from the Atlantic Ocean

to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico

Regions of North America

This map can be found on page 118 in

your text book!

Regions The Eastern Lowlands (aka Gulf-

Atlantic Coastal Plains) › Flat coastal plains that runs along

the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico› Piedmont: low plateau between the

Eastern Lowlands and the Appalachian mountainsContains many fast-flowing rivers

Regions

The Interior Lowlands› Covers interior of North America

› Flattened by glaciers› Interior plains› Great Plains› Canadian Shield

Regions Appalachian Highlands

› Green Mts. and Catskill Mts.= North

› Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mts. = South

› Appalachian Trail = 2,160 miles long

Regions Western Mountains, Plateaus, and

Basins› Rocky Mountains› Continental Divide› Sierra Nevada› Cascade Range› North America’s highest peak =

Mt. McKinley

Mountains Appalachian

Mountains› West of the coastal

plain› 1,600 miles long

from Newfoundland to Alabama

› 400 million years old

› 1,200 ft to 2,000 ft high

Rocky Mountains › Continental Divide› 3,000 miles (4,830

km) from British Columbia, Canada, to New Mexico, United States.

› 80 million years old› 12,000 ft high

Landforms The Islands

› Ellesmere, Victoria, Baffin Islands

› Aleutian Islands

› Hawaiian Islands

Rivers Mississippi River =

longest in continent Mackenzie River =

Canada’s longest river Colorado River= formed

Grand Canyon

Great Lakes

Formed by glaciers at the end of the last glacial period

around 10,000 years ago

Resources

Both countries rich in natural resources:›Fertile soil›Ample water supply›Vast forests›Variety of minerals

Minerals and Fossil Fuels

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

United States= Fishing, River transportation, salt

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

Forests 1/2 of Canada and 1/3 of

the U.S. is covered by forests

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

Climate and Vegetation

Shared Climates and Vegetation Cold Climates

› Tundra Far North Canada/ Alaska Near the Arctic Circle Almost no vegetation

› Subarctic Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada Very little vegetation if any

› Winters = long and bitterly cold› Summers = brief and chilly› Highland

Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ranges Coniferous forests

Shared Climates and Vegetation Moderate Climates

› Winters cold Summers Warm › Humid continental

North central/ northeastern U.S. and Southern Canada

Semi dry › Pacific west coast

Rainy

›Prevailing Westerlies

Differences in Climate and Vegetation Milder climates

› Humid Subtropical Summers hot and muggyWinters mild and coolLong growing season for variety of crops

Southern States

Differences in Climate and Vegetation

Dry Climates› Semiarid

Dry and mild temperatures Short grasses/ srubs Great Plains and northern part of Great Basin

› Arid Southwestern states Very dry/ warm temperatures Very little vegetation

Differences in Climate and Vegetation

Tropical Climates›Hawaii and Southern Florida Florida Everglades Hot, rainy climate

Extreme Weather

Air from the Gulf of Mexico ( warm and humid) clash with Canadian air (cold and dry › Blizzards in the North › Thunderstorms in the

south › Great Plains= tornado ally

Human Environment Interaction

Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land

First inhabitants were nomads; people who move from place to place

Beringia: land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaskathey were hunters and gathers

Settlement Agriculture Alter the Land

Early settlements became permanent about 13,000 years ago› Agriculture

Included: corn, beans & squash› Changed the landscape to meet their

needs Dug ditches Cut down trees to build houses/ fuel for fires.

Montreal, Quebec (1642): › Below freezing over 100 days of the

year› Canada’s 2nd largest city and a major

port› Includes underground shops &

restaurants Los Angeles: 2nd most populous city

in U.S.› Very mild climate all year round› Rapid growth forced people into

nearby valleys and desert-like foothills.

› The city itself is only 469 square miles however the metropolitan area spreads over 4,060 square miles

› With rapid growth and high population came

Building Cities

Overcoming Distances

Trails and Inland Waterways› St. Lawrence

Seaway: N.A.’s most important deepwater ship route Connects Great Lakes

to Atlantic› Oregon and Santa Fe

trails 1800’s

Overcoming Distances Transcontinental Railroads

› 1st one completed in U.S. in 1869› Trans-Canada railroad completed in

1885

Overcoming Distances National Highway

Systems› Trans-Canada

Highway› U.S. interstate

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

Human Geography

of the United States

History Original settlers around 13,000 years

ago.› Called Nomads› The women learned to grows crops,

harvest them and prepare the food to eat.› Women would also gather berries, wild

plants, leaves and roots for medicine. Spanish settlers came during the

1500’s › “New World”› St. Augusta, Florida

History French

› 1600’s› Northern Atlantic

Coast near St. Lawrence River

English › 1600’s › Maine to Georgia› 1607 Jamestown,

Virginia

History In 1617 European

colonies brought over Africans to work the cotton and tobacco plantations as slave laborers. › This was the start of the

Columbian Exchange. American Revolution

(1775-1783) Louisiana Purchase

(1803)

Government Constitution Representative democracy

› Federal republic Three Branches

› Executive, Legislative, Judicial States government

The World’s Greatest Economic Power

The U.S. has about 7% of the world’s land area and 5% of the world’ population

The U.S. is a world leader in:› Agricultural products› Manufactured goods› Global trade (10% of world’s

exports)

The World’s Greatest Economic Power

Three factors contribute to overall success of the American economy:› Available natural resources› Skilled labor force› Stable political system

Economy is run on a free enterprise system

FREE ENTERPRISE VS COMMUNISM

FREE ENTERPRISE

INDIVIDUALS MAKE DECISIONS ON BUYING AND SELLING

HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING

COMMUNISM

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MAKES DECISIONS

MIXED STANDARD OF LIVING

Agriculture American farms and

ranches supply about:› 40% of corn› 20% of cotton› 10% of wheat, cattle, hogs

Industry Leading industries include:

› Petroleum › Steel› Transportation equipment› Chemicals› Food processing› Telecommunications› Electronics

Post Industrial Economy Service Industry: any kind of

economic activity that produces a service rather than a product› Ex. Restaurant, hotel

Postindustrial Economy: manufacturing no longer plays a dominant role

Multinationals: corporations that engage in worldwide business

A Diverse Society 70% trace ancestry to Europe 13% trace ancestry from Central

and South America 12% trace ancestry to Africa 4% trace ancestry to Asia 1% are Native Americans A map can be seen on page 142

in text book

Language and Religion English Language is dominant language Spanish is 2nd

1,000 different religious groups in the U.S.› 56% = Protestants› 28% = Roman Catholics› 2% = Jewish› 2% = Muslim

The Arts and Popular Culture

Truly American styles began to develop in the 19th century in:› Painting› Music› Literature› Architectureskyscraper

Human Geograph

y of Canada

History and Government of Canada (1)

Like the United States, people migrated across Beringia into Canada, these people were the ancestors of the Inuit (Eskimos)

16th and 17th centuries, French claimed most of Canada

French and Indian War (1754-1763)- war over lands in North America

Land split between Catholic and Protestant

Upper Canada had a English speaking majority (Great Lakes)

Lower Canada had a French speaking population (Quebec, St. Lawrence River)

1867- Dominion of Canada was created to be a loose confederation (political union of Upper and Lower Canada)

1871- Canada stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific

With this stretch of land, what had to be developed in order to have successful settlement?

1872-Canadian government began construction of the Transcontinental Railroad

Canada is known for its mineral deposits such as gold, copper, zinc and silver.

Jobs and land was now open to all, creating more opportunities for immigrants from other parts of Europe besides Britain

Much of the ice melted in Canada, providing people with opportunities to develop cities and industries.

Nearly all of the growth from cities took place only 100 miles from the U.S. border

1931- Britain recognized Canada as a independent nation

Canada created a parliamentary government, a system which legislative and executive functions are combined in a legislature.

Parliament handles all legislative matters.

Consists of an appointed Senate and elected House of Commons.

The majority party’s leader in Parliament becomes the Prime Minister , their head of government

Canada’s economy is based largely on the trade of its many natural resources such as mining, logging, fishing and farming.

Biggest export is in forest products, wood and paper

Mining is second because of the natural mineral deposits

Canada exports more fish than any other country

Manufacturing raw goods accounts for 15% of Canadian jobs

Most of this manufacturing is done in the Canadian heartland- Quebec to Ontario

Tourism is the fastest growing service in Canada

U.S. is Canada’s chief trading partner

NAFTA- North American Free Trade Agreement (Canada, U.S. and Mexico)

Canada is officially a bilingual country-

English (Protestant) speaking majority and a French (Catholic) speaking minority

More than 80% of all Canadians live on only 10% of the land- 100 miles North of U.S. border

Subregions of Canada (3)

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories

Atlantic provinces- Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland

This province only contain 8% of the population

Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island

Small population because of rocky terrain and harsh weather

90% of the land in New Brunswick is covered in forests

Even though these provinces deal with harsh weather and non-agricultural land, the people use what is given to them. . . Logging, lumber, seafood as well as mining.

Nova Scotia boasts one of the largest fish-processing plants in North America

Due to the water resources of these people, its hydroelectric-power resources are supplying power to Quebec and parts of Northeastern U.S.

Canada’s core provinces are Quebec and Ontario.

3 out of 5 Canadians live there Ontario is the largest province as

far as population and Quebec is the largest province as far as land area.

Ontario = English speaking majority Quebec = French speaking majority

Most settlement is found along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River

Ottawa, Ontario is the capital of the federal government (Canada’s D.C.)

Montreal is the 2nd largest city and is the center of economic and political activity in Quebec

Niagara Falls, Ontario

The Prairie Provinces are Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta

These provinces are the center for the nations agricultural yield- 50% of Canada’s agricultural production

About 60% of the mineral output comes from this area as well

British Columbia is the western most province in Canada, nearly all of it lies within the Rocky Mountains

Victoria and Vancouver are British Columbia’s largest cities

Nunavut is a territory that was carved out of the eastern half of the Northwest Territories

It is home to the Inuit (Eskimos), in 1999 the Canadian government wanted to settle land claims that had been plaguing the Inuit for hundreds of years.