Physical Geography of the United States and Canada

1
Physical Geography of the United States and Canada

• Chapter 5

2
Section 1 Landforms and Resources

• Landscape Influenced Development The United
  States Canada is known as Anglo America because
  both countries were colonies of Great Britain
  most people speak English. The two countries are
  bound together by physical geography cultural
  heritage, but also strong economic political
  ties.

3
(No Transcript)
4

• Vast lands Canada is second in size the U.S.
  is third. Russia is rank as the largest.

• Abundant Resources both have natural resources,
  fertile soils, water, vast forests, and large
  deposits of different minerals.
• Resources attracted immigrants it has enabled
  them to become economic powers.

5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
Many and Varied Landforms

• The Eastern Lowlands flat coastal plain.
• One section is called the Atlantic Coastal Plain
  runs to the Gulf Coastal.
• The Appalachian Highlands its extend 1,600 miles
  from Newfoundland in Canada to Alabama. 400
  million years old.

• Interior Lowlands this area was flattened by
  huge glaciers thousands of years ago. It includes
  rolling hills, lakes, rivers, most fertile
  soil.
• Divided into 3 subregion interior plains, Great
  Plains, Canadian Shield.

8

• Western Mountains massive rugged Rocky
  Mountains. It extend 3,000 miles, from Alaska to
  New Mexico. 80 millions years old.
• Continental Divide is the line of highest points
  in the Rockies that marks the separation between
  rivers flowing eastward westward.

• The Islands
• Canadas are Ellesmere, Victoria, Baffin.
• United States Hawaiian islands.

9
Resources Shape Ways of Life

• Oceans Waterways Canada the U.S. have ample
  of water resources. Three oceans Atlantic,
  Pacific, Arctic.
• Great lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie,
  Superior.
• Rivers Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio the Rio
  Grande. Canadas is the Mackenzie River.
• Land Forests both countries are large
  contain some of the most fertile soils in the
  world. North America is the worlds leading food
  exporter. They also have huge forest, ½ of Canada
  is covered by woodland, the U.S. is 1/3. Both
  countries are major producers of lumber forest
  products.

10
(No Transcript)
11
Minerals and Fossil Fuels

• The U.S. Canada have large quantities
  different kinds of minerals fossils fuels.
• This resources gave them the means to
  industrialize rapidly.
• In the Canadian Shield iron ore, nickel, copper,
  gold, uranium.
• Western Mts gold, silver, copper, uranium.
• Both have substantial deposits of coal, natural
  gas, and oil, well developed network to move
  this fossil fuels.
• The U.S. is the worlds biggest consumer of
  energy resources. It is a major importer of this
  fuels. Most of Canadas energy exports go to the
  U.S.

12
(No Transcript)
13
Climate and Vegetation

• Section 2

14
Climate vegetation Part A

• Colder Climates
• 1. Arctic coastlines of Alaska and Canada huge,
  treeless plain also the Rocky Mts. Pacific
  ranges.
• 2. Tundra/long, bitter cold winters, brief
  summers in Arctic areas varying temperatures in
  mts.
• 3. Permafrost, permanently frozen ground along
  Arctic coastlines.

• Moderate Climates
• 4. North Central Northeastern U.S. much of
  southern Canada also Pacific Coast.
• 5. Humid continental climate with short summers
  in the upper part of the north central zone
  marine west coast in the Pacific coast.
• 6. Prevailing westerlies affect the Pacific coast
  climate.

15
Part B U.S. Climate Zones

• Milder Climates Southern stateshumid
  subtropical climate with hot summers mild, cool
  winters central southern coast of
  CaliforniaMediterranean climate with dry, sunny,
  warm summers mild winters
• Dry Climates Great Plains and dry northern parts
  of the Great BasinSemiarid climate with dry
  weather southwestern statesdesert climate.
• Tropical Climates Hawaiiwet climates that
  support rain forests Floridawet dry seasons

16
Human-Environment Interaction in Canada The U.S.

• Chapter 5 Section 3

17
A Human Perspective

• The sun-baked American Southwest was a harsh
  environment for its early inhabitants, the
  ancestors of todays Pueblo peoples. But these
  early settlers, made good use of available
  resources. From the land, they took clay and
  stone building materials. They built multi-room,
  apartment-like dwellings in cliffs. This gave
  protection against daytime heat, nighttime cold,
  and human and animal enemies. From plants and
  animals, the early settlers got food and
  clothing. They survived because they adapted to
  their environment.

18
Settlement Agriculture Alter the Land

• Settlement First inhabitants nomads, probably
  migrated from Asia over Beringia
• Agriculture Made settlements permanent remains
  an important activity in both the United States
  and Canada.

19
Building Cities

• Montreal is Canadas 2nd largest city a major
  port. It has adapted to the cold by building
  underground areas.
• Los Angeles mild climate drew thousands and
  urban sprawl began, as well as problems like air
  pollution, inadequate water, and construction on
  land where earthquakes are likely to occur.

20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
The Welland Canal is a strategic link between
Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. To accommodate as
much traffic as possible the lock system was
divided in two at several places, as on this
photo. Photo St. Lawrence Seaway Authority.
23
Overcoming Distances

• Trails waterways Trials for transportation/move
  ment included the early National Wilderness
  roads, Oregon Santa Fe trails. Canals
  included the Erie, as well as the U.S. and
  Canadas most important deepwater ship route, the
  St. Lawrence Seaway.
• Transcontinental railroads In both the U.S.
  Canada, rail lines across the country permanently
  changed the landscape, promoted economic
  development, helped create national unity.
• National highway systems Extensive highway
  systems in both the U.S. Canada accommodate
  promote heavy reliance on the automobile.

24
(No Transcript)
25
Questions

• 1. Which mountain Range is oldest?
• Appalachian Mts.
• 2. How do Canada and the United States rank in
  size compared with other countries?
• Second third
• 3. What large bodies of water surround the United
  states and Canada?
• Atlantic Pacific oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Arctic
  Ocean
• 4. What are three common resources in the United
  States?
• Petroleum, natural gas, coal
• 5. What are three common resources in Canada?
• Hydroelectric power, copper, timber

26

• 6. Which country produces more minerals?
• Neither they are about equal
• 7. Why doesnt the United States export as many
  minerals as Canada?
• It uses up too many to export
• 8. Why is Canada colder than the United States?
• Because it lies farther north
• 9. What kinds of climates do not exist in Canada?
• Desert or tropical
• 10. Where which climate would you most likely
  find a rain forest?
• tropical