World Geography Today Chapter 7 Natural Environments of

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Natural Environments of North America Preview Section 1: Physical Features Section 2: Climates and Biomes Section 3: Natural Resources Chapter Wrap-Up

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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?

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 1: Physical Features Question What are the various landform regions of the United States and Canada?

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 1: Physical Features Landform Regions of North America Region Location Description Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain Along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico Long coastal plain, begins at sea level and gradually rises Piedmont Alabama to New Jersey Upland region at the foot of the Appalachians 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 Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Old, eroded highlands

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 1: Physical Features Landform Regions of North America Region Location Description Great Plains South-central Canada to Texas and Mexico High plains, subregion of interior plains Canadian Shield Arctic Ocean to Atlantic coast Ancient rock, heavily glaciated, little soil Rocky Mountains New Mexico to Canada Several high and rugged ranges Intermountain Between Rockies and Basins and coastal mountain ranges Plateaus Pacific Along Pacific coast Mountains and Valleys High plateaus, deep canyons, isolated mountain ranges, desert basins Two mountain ranges separated by a series of valleys

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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 • Piedmont • Appalachian Highlands • Interior Plains • Canadian Shield • Great Plains • Rocky Mountains • Intermountain Region • Pacific Coast Region • Alaska and Hawaii

World Geography Today Chapter 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

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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?

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 2: Climates and Biomes Question What are the locations of the different climate types in the United States and Canada?

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 2: Climates and Biomes Climate Types of North America Tropical Humid Eastern Hawaii Tropical Wet and Dry Very tip of Florida, western Hawaii Humid Subtropical Southeast United States Humid Continental Northeast United States and southeastern Canada Semiarid Great Plains, western mountains Arid Areas east of Sierra Nevada and Cascades Highland Rocky Mountains Marine West Coast Southern Alaska through northern California Mediterranean Southern and central California Subarctic Northern Canada and Alaska Tundra Northern Alaska to Newfoundland Quebec

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 2: Climates and 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

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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?

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 3: Natural Resources Question What natural resources can be found in North America?

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Section 3: Natural Resources of North America Forest • Large forests and tree farms • Lumber, newsprint, pulpwood, and other products • Leading producers and exporters Water • Allow for irrigation and hydroelectricity production • Rich fisheries along coasts Agriculture Energy Minerals • Large area • Good climates for farming • Fertile soils • Provide enough food to feed population and leave a surplus • Huge coal reserves • Major oil producer, but still must import • Nickel, zinc, uranium, lead, copper, gold, and silver in Canada • Iron, copper, lead, zinc, • Rich in gold, silver, natural gas and other minerals in United States

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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

World Geography Today Chapter 7 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.

World Geography Today Chapter 7 Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas 1. What physical process forms barrier islands? Where are they found in North America? 2. What evidence of tectonic forces will you find in western areas of the United States and Canada? 3. What can happen when different air masses come in contact with one another over the Great Plains? 4. 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? 5. About 25 percent of the world’s reserves of which energy resource are found in the United States?