North America

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North America

• RHS- World Geography
• Anderson

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Physical Characteristics

• USA, Canada have mountains, long coastlines,
  coastal islands, rivers, plains, plateaus
• The Rockies are so tall in some places, that a
  rain shadow is created when the tops of the
  mountains block moisture coming in from the
  Pacific Ocean. (Remember that weather patterns
  flow W to E due to Jet Stream)
• This rain shadow effect makes the western side
  of the mountains very wet (windward side) and
  causes the eastern side of the mountains to be
  very dry (leeward side).

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ROCKY MOUNTAINS
There is an imaginary line of high elevation that
runs northwest to southeast through North
America. This is the dividing line that separates
any water that flows west towards the Pacific and
water that flows south to the Gulf of Mexico.
This line follows the Rocky Mountains and is
called the Continental Divide
Appalachians
Cascades/ Coastal Ranges
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RAIN SHADOW EFFECT
Windward side of the mountains
Leeward Side or protected side of the mountains
ANDES
Pacific Ocean
Even the Andes Mountains in S. America create
rain shadows on leeward slopes and cause moisture
to be blocked. Thats how we see such dry areas
in Latin Am. The Andes are so high that they
block moisture from the ocean and create
grasslands and deserts on the other side of the
mt.
http//www-cs-students.stanford.edu/amitp/simblob
/rain-shadow.png
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• Weather and Climate is also dominated by
  Maritime, Humid subtropical Humid Continental
  Climates- natural hazards include hurricanes
  tornadoes
• Tornado Alley is found in the Midwest-
  especially throughout the wide fertile area
  called the Great
  Plains.

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Regional Labels

• These are areas that share similar
  characteristics and have been given nicknames
  like the
• Dairy Belt Corn Belt
• Tornado Alley The West
• Dixie Bible Belt
• Breadbasket Great Plains

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Economics

• Economics are very similar to Europe
• Developed World Have many industries
• "Clean Industries (dont give off much
  pollution/by-products)- computer manufacturing,
  financial services, information communication
• "Dirty Industries (may give off heavy
  pollution)- manufacturing automobiles, power,
  textiles, petroleum processing, paper

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• Agriculture in North America (farming and
  herding) Grains major wheat producing area,
  tobacco, fruits vegetables as well as cattle
  ranching
• US is known for AGRIBUSINESS any large-scale
  farming enterprise
• The US and Canada are major exporters of
• Technology
• Consumer goods
• Information Systems
• Foodstuffs

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Trade NAFTA and global

• NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
• It promotes trade and economic growth by allowing
  free trade between the 3 member countries (US,
  Canada, Mexico)
• Supports trade and business around the world
• Multinational Corporations
• Nike Microsoft IBM Coca-Cola

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And whats the worlds largest store?

• WAL-MART!!!

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Commonalities (shared items) in North America

• European based majorities (English, Irish,
  German, Scot- among others)
• Majority is Christian religion- then Islam
  Judaism
• Democracy- strong political thinkers
• European traditions mixed with Native Americans
  along with Middle Easterner and S/SE Asian

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But even with major similarities, there are
cultural differences in the region. Would any of
these be found in North America?
YES! THEY ALL WOULD
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• Canadas province of Quebec is French speaking
  (Francophone) and wants to separate from the rest
  of English-speaking Canada. This is causing a lot
  of conflict with Canadas national identity.
  Bi-lingual signs like this one make some people
  mad.
• (see page 201 in your text)

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• There are regional differences between the US
  states.
• New Englanders sound, eat, act different from
  states in the South.
• For example, no one from Yonkers, NY eats grits
  or biscuits gravy!
• Likewise, people from the Midwest certainly dont
  sound like people from the Valley in Southern
  California!!

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EVEN MAJOR CITIES HAVE DIFFERENCES AMONG THEM
OR SEAFOOD PREPARED IN SAN FRANSICO VS. SEAFOOD
PREPARED IN WASHINGTON DC
OR COFFEE IN SEATTLE PREPARED IN STARBUCKS VS.
COFFEE PREPARED IN DALLAS (OK- ITS STILL
STARBUCKS)
LIKE CHICAGOS DEEP DISH PIZZA VS. NEW YORKS
PIZZA PIE
CAN YOU GUESS THESE CITIES? REMEMBER YOUR MENTAL
MAPS
Seattle
Chicago
San Francisco
New York City
Los Angeles
Washington DC
St. Louis
Dallas
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US Culture around the world? YES!

• Cultural diffusion the spreading of a cultural
  trait (i.e. material object, idea, or behavior
  pattern) from one society to another.
• When cultures join and merge (like a hybrid) it
  is called cultural convergence.

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Whats the evidence of cultural interaction?

• Diffusion of US culture to other regions-
  foreigners wearing denim jeans and chewing gum,
  eating at McDonalds, drinking Coke.
• Popular culture traditions done in the US from
  other countries Americans celebrating Cinco de
  Mayo, Mardi Gras, having a luau, or playing with
  a piñata at a party.
• The spread of any culture traits around the world
  can be very evident in pictures. What culture
  traits are represented?

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In Australia, its NOT Burger King.its Hungry
Jacks!! ?
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• We are a "Melting Pot" of peoples
• European and Asian Immigration since 1840s
• English colonization on the east coast (orig. 13
  colonies)- spread to West coast over time.
  (Manifest Destiny)
• Major push in 1910s and post WWII from all over
  the world
• Modern immigration from Latin America (esp.
  Mexico)

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Impacts of migration on the region

• Originally from overseas, foreign cultures have
  migrated to the United States/ Canada.
• Language- places have become bi-lingual
• Religious freedoms and different religions enter
  the areas.
• Multiple customs/traditions blending of
  cultures
• Changes of the cultural landscapes (monuments,
  buildings, different styles of homes, businesses,
  places of worship)

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• Human Impacts? (think back to Unit 3 and the 4
  De-s) Acid rain, ozone depletion

Water pollution (esp. Chicago on Lake Michigan,
Detroit with the auto productions, other urban
centers with heavy pollution. There are even
industrial spills like the Exxon Valdez along
the Alaskan Coast or the oil refineries explosion
in Texas.
Increased population on the coasts "Eastern
Megalopolis" from Boston to Va. Beach. Urban
areas have large employment opportunities (Why do
you think there are so many commuters here!!)
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• The Future of the region? Were
  Post-Industrial!! Well have increasing "Clean
  Industries" (NAFTA labor)
• Will we maintain a World presence? YES through
  UN, NATO, military presence
• What do YOU think will happen in the future?