Chapter Five

1
Chapter Five

• Physical Geography of the United States and
  Canada
• -A Land of Contrasts-

2
Landforms and Resources

• U.S. and Canada occupy 4/5 of what is called
  North America
• Bounded together not only by land but by cultural
  heritage and economic/political ties
• Canada is second, behind Russia, in largest
  country and the U.S. is third.
• Total these two countries fill 1/8 of the total
  land surface of the earth

3
Landforms and Resources

• Both countries have abundant resources including
  fertile soil, ample supply of water, vast forests
  and minerals

4
Many and Varied Landforms

• U.S. and Canada share many of the same landforms-
  map pg. 118
• Eastern Lowlands
• The Appalachian Highlands
• The Interior Lowlands
• Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins
• The Islands

5
Resources Shape Ways of Life

• Why would the U.S. and Canada have important
  fishing and shipping industries?
• 5 Great Lakes- HOMES Huron, Ontario, Michigan,
  Erie, Superior
• Mississippi River
• Mackenzie River
• North America is the leading food supplier
  because of the fertile soil

6
Resources Shape Ways of Life

• ½ of Canada is covered in forests as well as 1/3
  of the United States
• Minerals found in North America are iron, nickel,
  copper, gold, and uranium
• United States is the biggest consumer of energy
  resources

7
Climate and Vegetation

• Climate in Alaska and Canada- Winters are long
  and cold, while Summers are brief and chilly
• In North central U.S. and southern Canada,
  climate and soil make this one of the worlds
  most productive agricultural areas
• Southern U.S. has mild temperatures with adequate
  rainfall, the coasts have dry warm summers with
  mild winters
• Only Hawaii and Florida consist of tropical
  climates

8
Climate and Vegetation

• Warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold
  Canadian air masses sometimes clash over the
  Great Plains area and form violent thunderstorms,
  tornados, and blizzards

9
Human Environment Interaction

• Nomads- people who move from place to place
• Beringia was a land bridge that once connected
  North America to Asia
• Early settlements became permanent after
  agriculture took the place of hunting and
  gathering
• People began to alter the landscape to meet their
  needs

10
Human Environment Interaction

• Montreal, Quebec is Canada's second largest city,
  where the temperature is below freezing 100 days
  of the year. How did people adapt to these
  temperatures?
• Los Angeles, California is the United States
  second largest city. Why do so many people want
  to move to L.A.? What are some problems that the
  city might face if more people decide to move
  there?

11
Human Environment Interaction

• What natural barriers made it difficult for early
  peoples to move around the U.S.?
• In order to move across the land they had to
  create trails and waterways throughout the U.S.
  The Oregon and Santa Fe Trails are examples of
  how people moved west. The Erie Canal and St.
  Lawrence river were constructed as water links
  between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

12
Human Environment Interaction

• Eventually the Transcontinental Railroad was
  established and the National Highway System was
  created.
• What had to happen to the environment for these
  two major transportation innovations to take
  place?