physical geography of the united states and canada
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
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