Physical Geography of the United States and Canada
- Slides: 67
Physical Geography of the United States and Canada
Physical Map of North America
Basic Facts �Canada is the 2 nd largest country in the world �The United States is the 3 rd largest country �(Russia is the largest) �Extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico
Regions of North America This map can be found on page 118 in your text book!
Regions � The Eastern Lowlands (aka Gulf. Atlantic Coastal Plains) › Flat coastal plains that runs along the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico › Piedmont: low plateau between the Eastern Lowlands and the Appalachian mountains �Contains many fast-flowing rivers
Regions �The Interior Lowlands › Covers interior of North America › Flattened by glaciers › Interior plains › Great Plains › Canadian Shield
Regions � Appalachian Highlands › Green Mts. and Catskill Mts. = North › Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mts. = South › Appalachian Trail = 2, 160 miles long
Regions � Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins › Rocky Mountains › Continental Divide › Sierra Nevada › Cascade Range › North America’s highest peak = Mt. Mc. Kinley
Mountains � Appalachian Mountains › West of the coastal plain › 1, 600 miles long from Newfoundland to Alabama › 400 million years old › 1, 200 ft to 2, 000 ft high � Rocky Mountains › Continental Divide › 3, 000 miles (4, 830 km) from British Columbia, Canada, to New Mexico, United States. › 80 million years old › 12, 000 ft high
Landforms � The Islands › Ellesmere, Victoria, Baffin Islands › Aleutian Islands › Hawaiian Islands
� Mississippi River = longest in continent � Mackenzie River = Canada’s longest river � Colorado River= formed Grand Canyon Rivers
Great Lakes Formed by glaciers at the end of the last glacial period around 10, 000 years ago
Resources �Both countries rich in natural resources: › Fertile soil › Ample water supply › Vast forests › Variety of minerals
Minerals and Fossil Fuels �Canada = iron ore, nickel, copper, gold, uranium �United States= Fishing, River transportation, salt �Both countries = coal, natural gas, oil, energy producing fossil fuels
Forests � 1/2 of Canada and 1/3 of the U. S. is covered by forests �North America is the world’s leading food exporter › Much of this agricultural land is found in the plains region and in river valleys
Climate and Vegetation
Shared Climates and Vegetation � Cold Climates › Tundra �Far North Canada/ Alaska �Near the Arctic Circle �Almost no vegetation › Subarctic �Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada �Very little vegetation if any › Winters = long and bitterly cold › Summers = brief and chilly › Highland �Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ranges �Coniferous forests
Shared Climates and Vegetation � Moderate Climates › Winters cold Summers Warm › Humid continental �North central/ northeastern U. S. and Southern Canada �Semi dry › Pacific west coast �Rainy › Prevailing Westerlies
Differences in Climate and Vegetation �Milder climates › Humid Subtropical � Summers hot and muggy � Winters mild and cool � Long growing season for variety of crops � Southern States
Differences in Climate and Vegetation � Dry Climates › Semiarid �Dry and mild temperatures �Short grasses/ srubs �Great Plains and northern part of Great Basin › Arid �Southwestern states �Very dry/ warm temperatures �Very little vegetation
Differences in Climate and Vegetation �Tropical Climates › Hawaii and Southern Florida �Florida Everglades �Hot, rainy climate
� Air from the Gulf of Mexico ( warm and humid) clash with Canadian air (cold and dry › Blizzards in the North › Thunderstorms in the south › Great Plains= tornado ally Extreme Weather
Human Environment Interaction
Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land �First inhabitants were nomads; people who move from place to place ØBeringia: land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska Øthey were hunters and gathers
Settlement Agriculture Alter the Land � Early settlements became permanent about 13, 000 years ago › Agriculture �Included: corn, beans & squash › Changed the landscape to meet their needs �Dug ditches �Cut down trees to build houses/ fuel for fires.
� Montreal, Quebec (1642): › Below freezing over 100 days of the year › Canada’s 2 nd largest city and a major port › Includes underground shops & restaurants � Los Angeles: 2 nd most populous city in U. S. › Very mild climate all year round › Rapid growth forced people into nearby valleys and desert-like foothills. › The city itself is only 469 square miles however the metropolitan area spreads over 4, 060 square miles › With rapid growth and high population came Building Cities
� Trails and Inland Waterways › St. Lawrence Seaway: N. A. ’s most important deepwater ship route �Connects Great Lakes to Atlantic › Oregon and Santa Fe trails 1800’s Overcoming Distances
Overcoming Distances �Transcontinental Railroads › 1 st one completed in U. S. in 1869 › Trans-Canada railroad completed in 1885
Overcoming Distances � National Highway Systems › Trans-Canada Highway › U. S. interstate system is a network of more than 46, 000 miles of highway
Human Geography of the United States
History � Original settlers around 13, 000 years ago. › Called Nomads › The women learned to grows crops, harvest them and prepare the food to eat. › Women would also gather berries, wild plants, leaves and roots for medicine. � Spanish settlers came during the 1500’s › “New World” › St. Augusta, Florida
History � French › 1600’s › Northern Atlantic Coast near St. Lawrence River � English › 1600’s › Maine to Georgia › 1607 Jamestown, Virginia
History � In 1617 European colonies brought over Africans to work the cotton and tobacco plantations as slave laborers. › This was the start of the Columbian Exchange. � American Revolution (1775 -1783) � Louisiana Purchase (1803)
Government Constitution � Representative democracy � › Federal republic � Three Branches › Executive, Legislative, Judicial � States government
The World’s Greatest Economic Power � The U. S. has about 7% of the world’s land area and 5% of the world’ population � The U. S. is a world leader in: › Agricultural products › Manufactured goods › Global trade (10% of world’s exports)
The World’s Greatest Economic Power � Three factors contribute to overall success of the American economy: › Available natural resources › Skilled labor force › Stable political system � Economy is run on a free enterprise system
FREE ENTERPRISE VS COMMUNISM FREE ENTERPRISE COMMUNISM INDIVIDUALS MAKE DECISIONS ON BUYING AND SELLING CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MAKES DECISIONS HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING MIXED STANDARD OF LIVING
Agriculture �American farms and ranches supply about: › 40% of corn › 20% of cotton › 10% of wheat, cattle, hogs
� Leading industries include: › Petroleum › Steel › Transportation equipment › Chemicals › Food processing › Telecommunications › Electronics Industry
Post Industrial Economy � Service Industry: any kind of economic activity that produces a service rather than a product › Ex. Restaurant, hotel � Postindustrial Economy: manufacturing no longer plays a dominant role � Multinationals: corporations that engage in worldwide business
A Diverse Society � 70% � 13% trace ancestry to Europe trace ancestry from Central and South America � 12% trace ancestry to Africa � 4% trace ancestry to Asia � 1% are Native Americans �A map can be seen on page 142 in text book
Language and Religion � English Language is dominant language � Spanish is 2 nd � 1, 000 different religious groups in the U. S. › 56% = Protestants › 28% = Roman Catholics › 2% = Jewish › 2% = Muslim
The Arts and Popular Culture �Truly American styles began to develop in the 19 th century in: › Painting › Music › Literature › Architecture � skyscraper
Human Geography of Canada
History and Government of Canada (1) � Like the United States, people migrated across Beringia into Canada, these people were the ancestors of the Inuit (Eskimos) � 16 th and 17 th centuries, French claimed most of Canada � French and Indian War (1754 -1763)- war over lands in North America
Land split between Catholic and Protestant � Upper Canada had a English speaking majority (Great Lakes) � Lower Canada had a French speaking population (Quebec, St. Lawrence River) � 1867 - Dominion of Canada was created to be a loose confederation (political union of Upper and Lower Canada) � 1871 - Canada stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific �
�With this stretch of land, what had to be developed in order to have successful settlement?
1872 Canadian government began construction of the Transcontinenta l Railroad
Canada is known for its mineral deposits such as gold, copper, zinc and silver. � Jobs and land was now open to all, creating more opportunities for immigrants from other parts of Europe besides Britain � Much of the ice melted in Canada, providing people with opportunities to develop cities and industries. � Nearly all of the growth from cities took place only 100 miles from the U. S. border �
� 1931 - Britain recognized Canada as a independent nation � Canada created a parliamentary government, a system which legislative and executive functions are combined in a legislature.
� Parliament handles all legislative matters. � Consists of an appointed Senate and elected House of Commons. � The majority party’s leader in Parliament becomes the Prime Minister , their head of government
� Canada’s economy is based largely on the trade of its many natural resources such as mining, logging, fishing and farming. � Biggest export is in forest products, wood and paper � Mining is second because of the natural mineral deposits
� Canada exports more fish than any other country � Manufacturing raw goods accounts for 15% of Canadian jobs � Most of this manufacturing is done in the Canadian heartland - Quebec to Ontario
� Tourism is the fastest growing service in Canada � U. S. is Canada’s chief trading partner � NAFTA- North American Free Trade Agreement (Canada, U. S. and Mexico)
� Canada is officially a bilingual country. English (Protestant) speaking majority and a French (Catholic) speaking minority q More than 80% of all Canadians live on only 10% of the land- 100 miles North of U. S. border
Subregions of Canada (3) � Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories � Atlantic provinces- Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland � This province only contain 8% of the population
Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island
� Small population because of rocky terrain and harsh weather � 90% of the land in New Brunswick is covered in forests � Even though these provinces deal with harsh weather and nonagricultural land, the people use what is given to them. . . Logging, lumber, seafood as well as mining.
�Nova Scotia boasts one of the largest fish-processing plants in North America �Due to the water resources of these people, its hydroelectric-power resources are supplying power to Quebec and parts of Northeastern U. S.
� Canada’s core provinces are Quebec and Ontario. � 3 out of 5 Canadians live there � Ontario is the largest province as far as population and Quebec is the largest province as far as land area. � Ontario = English speaking majority � Quebec = French speaking majority
Most settlement is found along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River � Ottawa, Ontario is the capital of the federal government (Canada’s D. C. ) � Montreal is the 2 nd largest city and is the center of economic and political activity in Quebec � Niagara Falls, Ontario
� The Prairie Provinces are Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta � These provinces are the center for the nations agricultural yield 50% of Canada’s agricultural production � About 60% of the mineral output comes from this area as well
�British Columbia is the western most province in Canada, nearly all of it lies within the Rocky Mountains �Victoria and Vancouver are British Columbia’s largest cities
� Nunavut is a territory that was carved out of the eastern half of the Northwest Territories � It is home to the Inuit (Eskimos), in 1999 the Canadian government wanted to settle land claims that had been plaguing the Inuit for hundreds of years.
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