Chapter 5

1. Chapter 5 Landforms and Resources United States & Canada

4. Landscape Influenced Development • US & Canada occupy the Central & Northern 4/5 of North America. • Largest countries in the world • 1st Russia • 2nd Canada • 3rd United States

5. Landscape Influenced Development • Water that border the US & Canada • Atlantic Ocean (East) • Pacific Ocean (West) • Arctic Ocean (North) • Gulf of Mexico (South) • US & Canada are • Rich in Natural Resources

6. US & Canada Share Landforms: • Eastern & Western Mountain Range • Interior Plains • Water Bodies: • Atlantic, Pacific & Arctic Oceans, • Great Lakes, Niagara Falls, St. Lawrence River

7. Landforms • The Eastern Lowlands • The Appalachian Highlands • The Interior Lowlands • The Western Mountains, Plateaus & Basins • The Islands

8. Plains Central Plains GreatBasin Atlantic Coastal Plain Gulf Coastal Plains

9. Eastern Lowlands • Eastern lowlands: flat, coastal plain runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. • Atlantic Coastal Plains: begin as lowlands in the northeastern US & widen as it extends into Florida. • Piedmont • Between plains & Appalachian Mountains • Contains rolling hills & fast-flowing rivers and streams.

10. Geographic Regions

11. Appalachian Highlands • West of the coastal plains • Gently sloping Appalachian Mountains. • Begin in Newfoundland to Maine to Alabama • Extend 1,600 miles • More than 400 million years old • Have been eroded by the elements • 1200 ft - 2400 ft. elevation

12. Appalachian Mountains • Contain these mountain ranges: • Green Mountains • Catskill Mountains • Blue Ridge Mountains • Great Smokey Mountains

13. Interior Lowlands • Mainly level land covers a huge expanse of North America • Flattened by huge glaciers thousands of years ago. • Divided into 3 sub-regions: • The Interior Plains • The Great Plains • Canadian Shield; largest, 2 million sq.miles

14. The Western Mountains • Massive, rugged Rocky Mountains (youngest US range) • Extends 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico • Relatively young = 80million years old • Peaks more than 12,000 ft • Highest peak is Mt. McKinley located in Alaska @ 20,320 feet

15. The Continental Divide Line of highest points in the Rockies that marks the separation b/w rivers flowing eastward and westward.

16. Interior Plains • 1.Between Appalachian Mts. & Mississippi River • 2. Known as “America’s Breadbasket” – Most productive soil in the world. • 3. Mississippi Drainage Basin – rivers that drain into Mississippi River • Ohio River • Tennessee River

17. Great Plains . Between Mississippi River & Rocky Mountains • Western part of the Mississippi watershed. • Contains the Missouri, Platte, Arkansas, & Red Rivers • Stretches from N. Montana to Central Texas • Treeless region

18. The Great Plains

19. The Great Plains

20. Canadian Shield • Lies farther north • Rocky & mainly flat • 1500 ft above sea level • Around Hudson Bay

21. The Islands • Canada’s northernmost lands are islands riding the icy seas near the Arctic Circle • 3 islands are: • Ellesmere • Victoria • Baffin • US islands created by volcanic activity • Aleutian Islands • rugged & treeless • Off the coast of Alaska • Hawaiian Islands

22. Resources • US & Canada’s most important industries: • Agricultural • Industrial

23. Great Lakes • Huron • Ontario • Michigan • Erie • Superior • These lakes & the St. Lawrence river form one of the world’s major shipping routes.

24. Ocean’s & Waterways • Longest & busiest river system is Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio • Mississippi River runs almost the length of the US @ 2,357 miles long. • Main tributaries - Ohio & Missouri Rivers. • Canada’s longest river = Mackenzie River flows to Arctic Ocean

25. The Great Plains

26. Land & Forests • Land is one of the richest natural resources due to fertile soil. • Leading food exporter = North America

27. Land & Forests • 1/2 Canada & 1/3 of US are covered by woodlands • Major producers of lumber & forest products • US has more different trees than Canada b/c of the varied climate.

28. The American Landscape

29. Minerals & Fossil Fuels • Canadian shield has rich deposits of: • Iron ore • Nickel • Copper = $$ for US • Gold = $$ for US • Uranium • Coal - Appalachian Highlands & northern Great Plains • Oil & Natural Gas - Great Plains, Alaska, & along the Gulf of Mexico

30. Minerals & Fossil Fuels • TheUSis the Largest consumer of energy resources • 60% of energy is imported from middle eastern countries (OPEC> Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

32. Climate & Vegetation • Most of the US lies in the mid-latitudes • Climate are moderate • Canada is colder b/c it lies far north (high latitudes) • Canada & US share similar climates along the joint border, Alaska & Yukon or Northwest Territories.

34. Colder Climates • A sub arctic climate (tundra) is along the coast of Alaska & Canada • Permafrost would be found in Alaska • Rocky Mountains & the Pacific ranges have highland climate & vegetation. • See map on page 125

35. Moderate Climates • A humid continental climate can be found in central & northeastern US & southern Canada. • Most of Canada’s population is found in the humid continental climate.

37. Milder Climates • Milder, dry and tropical climates of N. America are found south of 40* latitude. • Much of the US is located here. • Most southern states have a humid subtropical climate • Great plains & northern parts of the Great Basin have Semiarid climate • Houston has a Humid Subtropical climate

38. Milder Climates • Southern California has a Mediterranean climate • Mojave and the Sonoran are large desert areas of the Southwest. • Only Hawaii and southern Florida have tropical climates. • Mount Waialeale on Hawaii is one of the wettest spots on earth. It receives about 460 inches of rain per year. • Canada has no desert, humid subtropical, Mediterranean, or tropical climates.

40. Deserts Death Valley Mojave Desert Sonovan Desert

41. Mojave Desert – 3,000’

42. Death Valley, CA • 3.3 million acres. • 95% wilderness.

43. Climate – Semi-Arid - Arid

44. Grand Canyon, Arizona

45. Extreme Weather • An area of extreme weather in the Great Plains is called “Tornado Alley” • Violent thunderstorms, tornadoes and blizzards are caused by warm air from the Gulf of Mexico meeting the cold Canadian air masses.

46. Settlement • The 1st inhabitants of N. America were Nomads from Asia • Beringia was a land bridge connecting Siberia & Alaska

47. Settlement • Most early Americans settled along coastlines and near rivers and streams • About 3000 years ago agriculture replaced hunting & gathering as the primary method of food production

48. Settlement • Early American vegetables like corn, beans, & squash are now food staples around the world. Agriculture remains a huge activity in Canada & US.

49. Building Cities • Early cities built mainly around water sources. • Other factors that affect where cities are build include: • Climate • Weather • Landscape • Availability of natural resources Jamestown established in May 1607

50. Building Cities • Canada’s 2nd largest city is Montréal, Quebec • It’s located on a large island where the St. Lawrence & Ottawa rivers meet • In order to make living easier in here, much of the city has been developed underground