Natural Environments of North America

1. Natural Environments of North America Preview Section 1:Physical Features Section 2:Climates and Biomes Section 3:Natural Resources Chapter Wrap-Up

2. Section 1: Physical Features Read to Discover • What are the major landform regions in the United States and Canada? • What rivers and lakes are found in the region?

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

4. Section 1: Physical Features Landform Regions of North America Region Location Description 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 Old, eroded highlands Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma

5. Section 1: Physical Features Landform Regions of North America Location Description Region Great Plains South-central Canada to Texas and Mexico High plains, subregion of interior plains Canadian Shield Ancient rock, heavily glaciated, little soil Arctic Ocean to Atlantic coast Rocky Mountains New Mexico to Canada Several high and rugged ranges Intermountain Basins and Plateaus High plateaus, deep canyons, isolated mountain ranges, desert basins Between Rockies and coastal mountain ranges Pacific Mountains and Valleys Along Pacific coast Two mountain ranges separated by a series of valleys

6. Section 1: Physical Features Major landform regions of the United States and Canada generally stretch from north to south. Listed from east to west the regions are: • Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain • Great Plains • Piedmont • Rocky Mountains • Appalachian Highlands • Intermountain Region • Interior Plains • Pacific Coast Region • Canadian Shield • Alaska and Hawaii

7. Section 1: Physical Features Bodies of Water • Major river systems • Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers • St. Lawrence system • Mackenzie River system • Western rivers: Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Yukon • Major lakes • Great Lakes • Northern Canada: Athabasca, Great Slave, Great Bear

8. Section 2: Climates and Biomes Read to Discover • Which climate types are found in the United States and Canada? • What are the major biomes of the region, and where are they found?

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

10. Section 2: Climates and Biomes Climate Types of North America Tropical Humid Eastern Hawaii Tropical Wet and Dry Very tip of Florida, western Hawaii Southeast United States Humid Subtropical Northeast United States and southeastern Canada Humid Continental Great Plains, western mountains Semiarid Arid Areas east of Sierra Nevada and Cascades Highland Rocky Mountains Southern Alaska through northern California Marine West Coast Mediterranean Southern and central California Subarctic Northern Canada and Alaska Tundra Northern Alaska to Newfoundland and Quebec

11. Section 2: Climates and Biomes Biomes • Temperate Forest—Southeastern U.S. and much of the U.S. and Canadian west • Semiarid and Desert—Much of southwestern U.S. • Grassland—Interior North America • Boreal Forest—About half of Canada and Alaska • Arctic Tundra—Northernmost region • Tropical—Southern Florida and Hawaii

12. Section 3: Natural Resources Read to Discover • What farming, forest, and water resources are found in the United States and Canada? • How rich is the region in energy and mineral resources?

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

14. Section 3: Natural Resources Resources of North America Energy Minerals Agriculture Forest Water Large forests and tree farms Lumber, newsprint, pulpwood, and other products Leading producers and exporters Huge coal reserves Major oil producer, but still must import Rich in natural gas Allow for irrigation and hydro-electricity production Rich fisheries along coasts Large area Good climates for farming Fertile soils Provide enough food to feed population and leave a surplus Nickel, zinc, uranium, lead, copper, gold, and silver in Canada Iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, and other minerals in United States

15. Section 3: Natural Resources • Farming • Wide variety of soils and climates • Abundant production of crops and livestock • Forests • Leading producers of wood and paper • Major U.S. forests in southeast and northwest • Water • Plentiful supplies • Irrigation and hydroelectric power • Coastal waters rich in marine resources

16. Section 3: Natural Resources • Energy • Coal—Good supply in both U.S. and Canada; U.S. has 25 percent of world total; generally thick deposits located in unpopulated areas • Oil and Natural Gas—Also plentiful, but U.S. uses more oil than it produces

17. Section 3: Natural Resources • Minerals • Canada is rich in minerals—especially in the Canadian Shield—and produces nickel, zinc, uranium, lead, copper, gold, diamonds, and silver. • The United States has valuable deposits of iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver.

18. Chapter Wrap-UpUnderstanding the Main Ideas • What physical process forms barrier islands? Where are they found in North America? • What evidence of tectonic forces will you find in western areas of the United States and Canada? • What can happen when different air masses come in contact with one another over the Great Plains? • 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 United States? • About 25 percent of the world’s reserves of which energy resource are found in the United States?