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Chapter Introduction Section 1 The Land Section 2 Climate and Vegetation Chapter Summary & Study Guide Chapter Assessment Click on a hyperlink to view the corresponding slides.

Chapter Objectives • Describe the dominant landforms and natural resources of the United States and Canada. • Discuss climate and vegetation in the United States and Canada. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

As you read this chapter, note in your journal unusual facts about the physical geography of the United States and Canada–facts that make you ask how or why. Consider using these facts as the main ideas for essays or reports.

The Land Objectives • Identify some key similarities and differences in the physical geography of the United States and Canada. • Explain why rivers have played such an important role in this region’s development. • Examine geographic factors that have made the United States and Canada so rich in natural resources. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

The Land Terms to Know • divide • headwaters • tributary • fall line • fishery Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

The Land Places to Locate • Mount Mc. Kinley • Rio Grande • Rocky Mountains • Mackenzie River • Canadian Shield • Mississippi River • Appalachian Mountains • St. Lawrence River • Colorado River Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. • Great Lakes

Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

The lower 48 states of the United States contain a number of active volcanoes. Two of the best known are in Washington, on the Pacific coast: Mount Rainier and Mount Saint Helens. At 14, 410 feet (4, 392 m), Mount Rainier is the third-tallest volcano in North America. It has been dormant for over a century. Mount Saint Helens, at a height of 8, 365 feet (2, 550 m), violently erupted in 1980, killing 57 people and damaging an area of about 70 sq. mi. (180 sq km).

Landforms • The Western Mountains and Plateaus The western mountains of North America are called the Pacific Ranges. • They include Alaska’s Mount Mc. Kinley, the highest point on the continent. • The Rocky Mountains link the United States and Canada and stretch northwest from New Mexico to Alaska. (pages 115– 116) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Landforms (cont. ) • Dry basins and plateaus, featuring Death Valley and the Grand Canyon, fill the area between the mountain ranges. • Interior Landforms East of the Rockies, the land falls and flattens into the Great Plains, which extend across the center of North America. (pages 115– 116) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Landforms (cont. ) • Eastern Mountains and Lowlands North America’s oldest mountain chain, the Appalachians, extends from Quebec in Canada to Alabama in the United States. • The Canadian Shield, a giant core of rock, makes up the eastern half of Canada and the northeastern United States. (pages 115– 116) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Landforms (cont. ) • Islands North American islands include Manhattan, home to a major world cultural and financial center, in the northeast. • The Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific are volcanic mountaintops. • Greenland, the world’s largest island, is just off the coast of Canada’s Ellesmere Island. (pages 115– 116) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Landforms (cont. ) Which areas of the region would you predict are the most densely populated? Why do you think so? People tend to settle near sources of freshwater and in mild climates. Mountaintops are too cold and the deserts are too dry for many people to live there. People would settle in the Great Plains because the farmland is rich and abundant. Some of the islands are probably crowded, as are most coastal areas where large cities are located. Other populated areas border lakes and rivers that serve as transportation arteries. (pages 115– 116) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

A Fortune in Water • Rivers from the Rockies The high ridge of the Rockies is called the Continental Divide. • Water flows west of the Divide toward the Pacific Ocean and east of the Divide into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. (pages 116– 119) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

A Fortune in Water (cont. ) • The Mighty Mississippi One of North America’s longest rivers, the Mississippi flows 2, 350 miles (3, 782 km) from its source. • It begins in Minnesota as a stream and ends as a broad river that empties into the Gulf of Mexico. • The Mississippi drains all or part of 31 U. S. states and 2 Canadian provinces. It is one of the world’s busiest commercial waterways. (pages 116– 119) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

A Fortune in Water (cont. ) • Eastern Rivers The St. Lawrence, one of Canada’s most important rivers, forms part of the United States-Canada border. • The Canadian cities of Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa developed along the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries. (pages 116– 119) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

A Fortune in Water (cont. ) • Niagara Falls, located on a river connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, is a major source of hydroelectric power for Canada and the United States. (pages 116– 119)

A Fortune in Water (cont. ) (pages 116– 119) Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

A Fortune in Water (cont. ) • From Glaciers to Lakes Glacial dams created Canada’s Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake. • The Great Lakes–Lakes Superior, Erie, Michigan, Ontario, and Huron–are basins created by glacial activity. • The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is a network of canals, rivers, and waterways linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. (pages 116– 119) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

A Fortune in Water (cont. ) What is the importance of the Mississippi River in U. S. history and economics? Explain. The river stretches almost the full length of the country’s interior, so it provides a means for transporting people and goods. European explorers used the Mississippi to venture into new territories. (pages 116– 119) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Natural Resources • Fuels An abundance of resources, such as fossil fuels and minerals, has contributed to the prosperity of the United States and Canada. (pages 119– 120) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Natural Resources (cont. ) • Minerals Gold, silver, and copper are found in the Rocky Mountains. Nickel and iron are mined in parts of the Canadian Shield. • Deposits of low-grade iron ore exist in northern Minnesota and Michigan. • Canada supplies much of the world’s potash, copper, and silver. (pages 119– 120) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Natural Resources (cont. ) (pages 119– 120) Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

Natural Resources (cont. ) • Timber Today forests cover less than 50 percent of Canada and just 30 percent of the United States. • Commercial loggers face the challenge of harvesting trees while preserving the remaining forests. (pages 119– 120) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Natural Resources (cont. ) • Fishing The coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico are important sources of fish and other sea animals. • Because of overfishing, however, the Grand Banks, off Canada’s southeast coast, are now off limits to cod fishers. (pages 119– 120) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Natural Resources (cont. ) (pages 119– 120) Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

Natural Resources (cont. ) If you were a commercial fisher, how would you resolve the dilemma between earning a living from the sea and conserving the fish population? Possible answers: A commercial fisher might identify new species for harvest, work to establish protected hatching areas, or find alternative uses for equipment and fishing boats, such as tourism. The fisher might also observe limits and seasons for catching fish, and seek other, part-time employment in off seasons. (pages 119– 120) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Checking for Understanding Define Match each definition in the left column with the appropriate term in the right column. __ D 1. a boundary in the eastern United States where the higher land of the Piedmont drops to the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain A. divide __ B 2. the sources of river waters D. fall line __ A 3. a high point or ridge that determines the direction rivers flow E. fishery __ C 4. smaller river or stream that feeds into a larger river __ E 5. areas (freshwater or saltwater) in which fish or sea animals are caught Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers. B. headwaters C. tributary

Critical Thinking Drawing Conclusions Why might fishing disputes arise in the region? Possible answer: More intense competition for decreasing numbers of fish might cause disputes. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Critical Thinking Identifying Cause and Effect How did the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway influence the development of cities in the region? Early cities depended on the lakes and waterways for transportation. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Critical Thinking Drawing Conclusions In what ways did the actions of glaciers alter the physical geography of this region and what effects did those alterations have on the region’s development? Possible answer: Settlers could search for helpful geographic features, such as gaps or low-lying areas, through which they could pass. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Analyzing Maps Location Study the physical-political map on the right. Describe the landscapes found in the following places: Montana, Texas, and Ontario. Plains and mountains are found in Montana. Plains, coastlines, hills, and mountains are found in Texas. Lowlands lakes and plateaus are found in Ontario. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Applying Geography Effects of Location Write a paragraph describing the effects of a physical process, such as weather or gravity, on the flow of rivers in the United States and Canada.

Close Look through travel magazines for photos of a region of the United States or Canada. Then reread “A Geographic View” on page 115 of your textbook. Write a description about the photo you chose.

Climate and Vegetation Objectives • List the climate zones found in the United States and Canada. • Describe how winds, ocean currents, latitude, and landforms affect the region’s climates. • Identify the kinds of weather hazards that affect the United States and Canada. • Discuss how human settlement has affected the natural vegetation of the United States and Canada. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Climate and Vegetation Terms to Know • timberline • chinook • prairie • supercell • hurricane • blizzard Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Climate and Vegetation Places to Locate • Death Valley • Great Plains • Everglades • Newfoundland • Yukon Territory Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

Tornadoes are a common phenomenon in the Great Plains region. “Tornado” comes from the Spanish word for thunderstorm. Tornadoes are usually brief, but they are very destructive. During the 1990 s alone, 378 people lost their lives in tornadoes in the United States.

A Varied Region • Two-thirds of Canada and the U. S. state of Alaska experience long, cold winters and brief, mild summers. • Most of the continental United States and the southern one-third of Canada enjoy temperate climates, depending on elevation. • Hawaii, in the South Pacific, has a tropical climate. (page 121) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

A Varied Region (cont. ) Which climate regions in the United States and Canada do you think attract the greatest number of people? Explain. Possible answer: Many people prefer living in mid-latitude and tropical climates because of relatively mild or warm temperatures and the variety of ways of earning a living. (page 121) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Northern Climates • Large parts of Canada and Alaska lie in a subarctic climate zone with very cold winters and extensive coniferous forests. • Winter temperatures can fall as low as -70ºF (– 57ºC). (page 122) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Northern Climates (cont. ) • Bitter winters and cool summers in the tundra along the Arctic coastline make the area unsuitable for most plants or people. • Greenland boasts only a few ice-free areas with some extremely hardy trees. (page 122) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Northern Climates (cont. ) What everyday effects does climate have on people who live in subarctic and tundra climate zones? They probably spend a lot of their time indoors. They must wear layers of warm clothing and heavy socks and boots. For travel, they need vehicles that function in icy conditions. They must take precautions against frostbite. They need to keep their kitchens stocked with supplies for the times when they are snowed in. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive or unavailable. Occupational opportunities are limited. (page 122) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Western Climates • Marine West Coast A marine west coast climate brings nearly 100 inches (254 cm) of rainfall every year to the Pacific coast from California to southern Alaska. • This amount of precipitation, combined with cool temperatures, is ideal for coniferous forests, ferns, and mosses. (pages 122– 124) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Western Climates (cont. ) • Plateaus, Basins, and Deserts - The region between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains includes deserts and steppes. - The weather is hot and dry. Cacti and wildflowers bloom during the brief spring rains. - Elevation gives the higher reaches of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ranges a highlands climate. (pages 122– 124) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Western Climates (cont. ) - Beyond the timberline, coniferous forests give way to only lichens and mosses. - In the spring, the warm, dry chinook wind thaws the snows at the base of the eastern slopes of the Rockies. (pages 122– 124) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Western Climates (cont. ) Why are trees unable to grow on high mountaintops? At high altitudes, the temperatures are too cold for trees to grow. Soils are generally shallow, rocky, and frozen, so seeds do not germinate. (pages 122– 124) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Interior Climates • Prairies, or naturally treeless expanses of grasses, spread across North America’s midsection. • Some prairie grasses grow up to 12 feet high (3. 7 m) as a result of rainfall ranging from 10 to 30 inches (26 to 76 cm) every year. (pages 124– 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Interior Climates (cont. ) • The Dust Bowl When farmers settled the Great Plains, they plowed up the sod formed by prairie grasses, leaving the soil without protection. • During the 1930 s, several seasons of drought and dry winds blew the soil away, and the area was nicknamed the Dust Bowl. (pages 124– 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Interior Climates (cont. ) (pages 122– 124) Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

Interior Climates (cont. ) What steps have farmers today taken to prevent future dust-bowl disasters? Farmers have planted shelter belts of trees to moderate wind damage, rotated crops, allowed some areas to remain in grass, adopted no-till farming practices, contour plowed to conserve moisture, and planted cover crops. Many participate in government-sponsored conservation programs. (pages 124– 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Eastern Climates • The southeastern United States, with a humid subtropical climate, has mild winters and long, muggy summers. • Much of the original deciduous forest has been cleared for agriculture. • Wetlands and swamps shelter a great variety of plants and animals. • Every summer, the region prepares for hurricanes. (page 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Eastern Climates (cont. ) • The northeastern United States and southeastern Canada have a humid continental climate with bands of deciduous and mixed forestland. • Much of this area is prone to winter blizzards–snowstorms with high winds, heavy or blowing snow, and little visibility. (page 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Eastern Climates (cont. ) (page 125) Click the Speaker button to listen to the audio again.

Eastern Climates (cont. ) In which region would you prefer to live? Why? Possible answers: The Northeast, because the climate changes during each of the four seasons, or the South, because the winters are mild. (page 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Tropical Climates • Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the southern tip of Florida have tropical climates. • Southern Florida has a tropical savanna area, and both Hawaii and Puerto Rico have tropical rain forests. (page 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Tropical Climates (cont. ) Why is southern Florida the only place in the continental United States to have a tropical climate, and what kind of tropical climate exists there? Florida’s southern tip lies in the low latitudes. The rest of the continental United States is too far north to have tropical climates. Florida’s tropical savanna climate zone has seasonal rains, vast grasslands, and high temperatures year-round. (page 125) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Checking for Understanding Define Match each definition in the left column with the appropriate term in the right column. __ B 1. seasonal warm wind that blows down the Rockies in late winter and early spring __ E 2. a large, powerful windstorm that forms over warm ocean waters __ F 3. a snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour, temperatures below freezing, and visibility of less than 500 feet for 3 hours or more __ C 4. an inland grassland area Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers. A. timberline B. chinook C. prairie D. supercell E. hurricane F. blizzard

Checking for Understanding Define Match each definition in the left column with the appropriate term in the right column. __ D 6. violent thunderstorms that can spawn tornadoes A. timberline __ A 7. elevation above which it is too cold for trees to grow C. prairie B. chinook D. supercell E. hurricane F. blizzard Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.

Critical Thinking Making Comparisons How do the Pacific winds and the Arctic winds differ in their impact on climate? Pacific winds that warm the west coast of the region account for the mild winters there. Arctic winds chill the region’s midsection and east coast, bringing severe winter weather. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Critical Thinking Problem Solving How might the conditions that caused the 1930 s Dust Bowl disaster have been avoided? Conditions could have been avoided by using different farming and conservation methods. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Critical Thinking Comparing and Contrasting How do hurricanes and tornadoes differ? Hurricanes are ocean storms hundreds of miles wide with winds of 74 mph (119 k/h) or more that occur in late summer and early autumn. Tornadoes–twisting funnels of air with winds of up to 300 mph (483 k/h)–result from violent spring and summer thunderstorms called supercells. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Analyzing Maps Region Study the maps below. Identify the three largest climate regions and the vegetation common in each. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Analyzing Maps The subarctic, humid continental, and humid subtropical regions all have some mixed forests. Coniferous trees are common in the subarctic areas of Canada. Temperate grasslands are common in the region’s midsection.

Applying Geography Effects of Climate Describe and explain the environmental factors that have affected human migration in the region. Possible answers: Harbors, waterways, climate and soil differences, and rugged, but passable mountains are all environmental factors that have affected human migration. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Close Compare and contrast the environments of the United States and Canada.

Section 1: The Land (pages 115– 120) Key Points • Canada and the continental United States have similar landforms, shaped by similar geologic processes. • Both have high, sharp mountains and dry plateaus in the west; rolling, grassy plains in the center; and lower, older mountains and coastal lowlands in the east. • The region’s waterways, including rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and intracoastal channels, played a vital role in settling the land continue to serve as commercial highways. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Section 1: The Land (pages 115– 120) Key Points • The Continental Divide divides the region into two large drainage areas. • To the east of the Divide, waters flow to the Arctic Ocean, to Hudson Bay, to the Atlantic Ocean, or to the Gulf of Mexico. To the west, they flow into the Pacific Ocean. • Glacial movement shaped much of the North American landscape. • The geologic factors that shaped the United States and Canada also provided the region with a wealth of natural resources. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Section 2: Climate and Vegetation Key Points (pages 121– 125) • The region encompassing the United States and Canada experiences a great variety of climates. • Some climate regions of the United States and Canada are influenced primarily by latitude. • Wind, ocean currents, rainfall patterns, and elevation moderate the effects of latitude in other climate zones of the United States and Canada. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Section 2: Climate and Vegetation Key Points (pages 121– 125) • Climatic factors cause hazardous seasonal weather patterns in the United States and Canada, including spring and summer tornadoes, and summer and fall hurricanes, and winter blizzards. • The region’s natural vegetation reflects its climatic variety, but human interaction with the environment has greatly altered natural vegetation. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Reviewing Key Terms Insert the key term that best completes each of the following sentences. chinook fall line fisheries prairies supercell timberline tributary headwaters divide 1. __________ supply great quantities of Fisheries fish and other sea animals to North America. 2. The warm, dry wind, or __________ chinook melts snow at the base of the Rockies. 3. Lichens and mosses grow above the __________. timberline 4. Spring and summer tornadoes are spawned by a violent thunderstorm called a(n) supercell __________. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.

Reviewing Key Terms Insert the key term that best completes each of the following sentences. chinook fall line fisheries prairies supercell timberline tributary headwaters divide 5. Farmers on the wide grasslands, or __________ of the Great Plains broke prairies up sod to grow crops. 6. Many North American rivers have their __________, or source, in the Rocky headwaters Mountains, where a(n) __________ divide determines the direction of the rivers’ flow. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.

Reviewing Key Terms Insert the key term that best completes each of the following sentences. chinook fall line fisheries prairies supercell timberline tributary headwaters divide 7. Important cities grew up along the fall line __________, where the Piedmont drops to the Atlantic Coastal Plain. 8. A(n) __________ of the Mississippi tributary River may be a stream or small river. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.

Reviewing Facts Section 1: The Land How were the Pacific Ranges formed? The Pacific Ranges were formed by collisions between the Pacific and the North American tectonic plates millions of years ago. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Reviewing Facts Section 1: The Land What effect does the Continental Divide have on the direction rivers flow? Waters west of the Continental Divide flow into the Pacific Ocean. Waters east of the divide flow into the Mississippi River system and then into the Gulf of Mexico. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Reviewing Facts Section 2: Climate and Vegetation What kind of climate is common in most of the United States and southern Canada? Climates typical of mid-latitudes that vary with elevation are common in most of the United States and southern Canada. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Reviewing Facts Section 2: Climate and Vegetation Name two types of vegetation in this region. Mixed deciduous-coniferous forest and grasslands are found in the United States and southern Canada. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Critical Thinking Analyzing Information What geologic processes shaped much of this region? Collision of tectonic plates and the movement of glaciers shaped much of this region. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Critical Thinking Drawing Conclusions Why should the United States and Canada protect their natural vegetation? Possible answer: The United States and Canada should protect their natural vegetation to prevent massive erosion and loss of topsoil such as that which occurred during the Dust Bowl era. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Locating Places Match the letters on the map with the physical features of the United States and Canada. Write your answers on a sheet of paper. __1. Rocky Mountains J __2. Great Plains F __3. Appalachian K Mountains __4. Canadian Shield L __5. Great Lakes A __6. Mississippi River C Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.

Locating Places Match the letters on the map with the physical features of the United States and Canada. Write your answers on a sheet of paper. __7. Hudson Bay G __8. Great Bear Lake D __9. Pacific Ranges B __10. Mackenzie River I __11. Rio Grande H __12. Great Slave Lake E Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.

Why is vegetation in the United States more varied than that in Canada? The United States has more climate zones, from subarctic to tropical. These zones help determine what types of vegetation will grow in a certain area. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Explore online information about the topics introduced in this chapter. Click on the Connect button to launch your browser and go to the Glencoe World Geography Web site. At this site, you will find interactive activities, current events information, and Web sites correlated with the chapters and units in the textbook. When you finish exploring, exit the browser program to return to this presentation. If you experience difficulty connecting to the Web site, manually launch your Web browser and go to http: //geography. glencoe. com

Choose the best answer for the following multiplechoice question. If you have trouble answering the question, use the process of elimination to narrow your choices.

1. Given the information shown in the bar graph on page 129 of your textbook, which city is most likely located east of the fall line in the eastern United States? A City 1 B City 2 C City 3 D City 4 Test-Taking Tip To determine which city is east of the fall line, remember that the fall line is where the higher land of the Piedmont drops to the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain to the east. Eliminate those choices that do not indicate a city on the coast, near sea level. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

The Appalachian Trail The National Geographic Society Tree Click on a hyperlink to view the corresponding slide.

The Appalachian Trail is a 2, 000 mile (3, 200 km) hiking path through some of the most beautiful scenery in the eastern United States. Earl V. Shaffer distinguished himself by being the first person to hike the entire trail in 1949, the first to hike the trail in both directions, and, in 1999 at the age of 80, the oldest person to complete the trek from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia.

The National Geographic Society Tree, a coast redwood growing in California’s Redwood National Park, is a leading contender for the world’s tallest living tree. Measured in 1995 at 365. 5 feet (111 m), the tree has branches that sweep in 50 -foot (15 -m) arcs.

Geology The Canadian Shield is a horseshoeshaped expanse of rock that covers half of Canada. Some of the rock formations in the Canadian Shield are 2 billion to 4 billion years old, making them some of the oldest formations in the world.

The Dust Bowl Writer John Steinbeck chronicled the plight of those who lost their farms in the Dust Bowl in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, written in 1939.

Reading a Relief Map When you plan a walk, do you prefer an easy stroll along flat ground, or do you look for a challenging hike up and down steep hills? By using a relief map, you can determine the elevation of the terrain you are going to cover.

Reading a Relief Map Learning the Skill A relief map is a special purpose map that shows variation in height, or elevation, of land areas. All elevation is measured from sea level, the average level of water in the world’s oceans. Mapmakers label this elevation level zero feet (0 m). The actual elevation of some places is shown as a negative number because they lie below sea level. It is not possible for a relief map to show the elevation of every single inch of land. As a result, areas are grouped together. A map may show all areas with an elevation between sea level and 1, 000 feet (305 m) colored green. Within that area no hill will be higher than 1, 000 feet (305 m) and no valley lower than sea level. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Reading a Relief Map Learning the Skill Follow these steps to read a relief map: • Note the title of the map. • Study the map key. Relief maps generally use colors or shaded areas to identify elevation. • Compare the relief map with other maps. Observe how elevation affects climate, population distribution, and economic activity in an area. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Reading a Relief Map Practicing the Skill Refer to the relief map on page 126 of your textbook to answer the following questions. 1. What is the color of the map’s highest elevation? The color of the highest elevation is orange. 2. What elevation range does the color green indicate in feet? In meters? The color green indicates 0 to 1, 000 feet, or 0 to 300 meters. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display possible answers.

Reading a Relief Map Practicing the Skill Refer to the relief map on page 126 of your textbook to answer the following questions. 3. What color is the elevation range of 2, 000 to 5, 000 feet (600 m to 1, 500 m)? The color of the elevation range is light orange. 4. At what elevation is the state of Mississippi? The elevation of Mississippi is 0 to 1, 000 feet. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display possible answers.

Reading a Relief Map Practicing the Skill Refer to the relief map on page 126 of your textbook to answer the following questions. 5. What are the elevation levels as you travel west from New Jersey to Ohio? The elevation levels are from 0 to 5, 000 feet. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display possible answer.

Maps The United States and Canada: Physical-Political The United States and Canada: Climate Regions The United States and Canada: Natural Vegetation Click on a hyperlink to view the corresponding slide.

Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

Latitude; the average temperature decreases as latitude increases. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.

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