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Part III. Eastern Mountains. Appalachians: formed 300 million yrs ago Oldest mts; eroded to 5,000-6,000 ft Eastern NA plate collided with African plate From Quebec to central Alabama Valleys great for agriculture. Piedmont & Lowlands. Piedmont: E of Appalachians
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Eastern Mountains • Appalachians: formed 300 million yrs ago • Oldest mts; eroded to 5,000-6,000 ft • Eastern NA plate collided with African plate • From Quebec to central Alabama • Valleys great for agriculture
Piedmont & Lowlands • Piedmont: E of Appalachians • Plateau region that drops (Fall line) into the coastal lowlands • Many 1st cities originated here: Philadelphia, Richmond, Baltimore, D.C…. WHY? • Rapids/waterfalls = hydroelectric power and blocked from moving inland
Lowlands • Atlantic Plain- Carolinas, narrower as move North • Gulf Coastal Plain- west toward TX
Water • US/Canada wealthy b/c of abundant water- power, transportation
Water • Mississippi: 2,350 miles • Starts as stream in Minnesota • Gets to width of 1 ½ miles & empties into Gulf of MX • Affects all/part of 31 states and 2 provinces • One of world’s busiest waterways
Water • Niagara Falls: • Tourist attraction, and major source of hydroelectric power • Form border of Ontario and NY • St. Lawrence River: one of Can. most impt. Rivers • From Great Lakes to Atlantic, forms country border
Water • Glacial Lakes • Great Bear Lake & Great Slave Lake formed by glacial dams • Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior) formed by glacial gouges • St. Lawrence Seaway- series of canals & rivers • Helped build industry in NE
Islands • NYC’s Manhattan Island: impt. economic center • Hawaii: volcanic island state, big tourism • Newfoundland, P.E.I., Vancouver I.: Canada’s most impt. • Greenland: world’s largest island, Denmark territory (Alaska + TX)
Resources • Fuels • petroleum & nat. gas: TX and Alaska, & Alberta lead • Coal: Appalachians, Wyoming, & British Columbia • Minerals • Gold, silver, copper: Rockies • Iron & nickel: Canadian Shield
Resources • Timber • Today cover <50% of Canada & 1/3 of US • Conservation of forests and animals is high priority • Fishing • Grand Banks (Can.), Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of MX • Cod fishing banned in Grand Banks in ’92 due to overfishing