Section 1: Physical Features Section 2: Climates and Biomes Section 3: Natural Resources

1. CHAPTER 7 Natural Environments of North America Section 1:Physical Features Section 2:Climates and Biomes Section 3:Natural Resources

2. SECTION 1 Physical Features Question: What are the various landform regions of the United States and Canada?

3. SECTION 1 Region Location Description Physical Features Landform Regions of North America along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico long coastal plain, begins at sea level and gradually rises Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain upland region at the foot of the Appalachians Piedmont Alabama to New Jersey Appalachian Highlands Alabama to Southeastern Canada several ranges, valleys, and ridges; low eroded mountains Interior Plains between Appalachians and Rocky Mountains rolling hills, many rivers and lakes, productive soils Interior Highlands Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma old eroded highlands

4. SECTION 1 Region Location Description Physical Features (cont.) Landform Regions of North America south-central Canada to Texas and Mexico high plains, subregion of interior plains Great Plains ancient rock, heavily glaciated, little soil Canadian Shield Arctic Ocean to Atlantic coast Rocky Mountains New Mexico to Canada several high and rugged ranges Intermountain Basins and Plateaus between Rockies and coastal mountain ranges high plateaus, deep canyons, isolated mountain ranges, desert basins Pacific Mountains and Valleys along Pacific coast two mountain ranges separ-ated by a series of valleys

5. SECTION 2 Climates and Biomes Question: What are the locations of the different climate types in the United States and Canada?

6. SECTION 2 Climates and Biomes Climate Types of North America very tip of Florida, western Hawaii tropical wet and dry southeast United States humid subtropical northeastern United States and southeastern Canada humid continental semiarid Great Plains, western mountains areas east of Sierra Nevada and Cascades arid southern Alaska through northern California marine west coast southern and central California Mediterranean eastern Hawaii tropical humid across northern Alaska to Newfoundland and Quebec tundra northern Canada and Alaska subarctic

7. SECTION 3 Natural Resources Question: What natural resources can be found in North America?

8. SECTION 3 Agricultural resources • large area • good climates for farming • fertile soils • provide enough food to feed population and leave a surplus Forest resources Water resources • large forests and tree farms • produce wood for lumber, newsprint, pulpwood, and other forest products • leading producers and exporters • allow for irrigation and hydroelectricity production • rich fisheries along coasts Resources of North America Mineral resources Energy resources • nickel, zinc, uranium, lead, copper, gold, and silver in Canada • iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold silver, and other minerals in United States • huge coal reserves • major oil producer, but still must import • rich in natural gas Natural Resources

9. CHAPTER 7 Chapter Wrap-Up 1. What physical process forms barrier islands? Where are they found in North America? 2. What evidence of tectonic forces will you find in western areas of the United States and Canada? 3. What can happen when different air masses come in contact with one another over the Great Plains? 4. What major factors influence climates in the United States? How does nearness to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean influence the humid continental climate region of the northeastern Untied States? 5. About 25 percent of the world’s reserves of which energy resource are found in the United States?