Physical Regions Of Physical Regions Of North AmericaNorth America

By Keanna Natt

The Appalachian The Appalachian RegionRegion

Stretches 2400 km from Newfoundland to Georgia

Rolling hills due to erosion

Fold mountains

Fertile plateaus and river valleys

Climate affected by meeting of oceans

Cold water brought by Labrador Current can cause freezing in north

Waters ideal habitat for aquatic micro organisms

Once very forested with coniferous and deciduous trees

Much soil poor and unproductive

Economy no longer dependant on mining, foresting, and agriculture

Many manufacturing and service industries more diversified

Mining, logging, and trade (sea ports)

Coal mining and mountaintop removal main environmental concern

Violations of Clean Water Act by many mining companies

The Coastal PlainsThe Coastal Plains

Lowland area

Stretches from Cape Cod to Mexico over 3200 km

Flat, gently rolling hills

Many swamps and marshes (important for aquatic life)

Mississippi delta important belt of agricultural land

North is cold in winter and hot in summer

South has a more subtropical climate

Hurricanes in south

First vegetation was pine forests

Lush jungles in areas (Mexico)

Agricultural, paper making, and manufacturing

Streams entering from Appalachians important to industry

Industrial companies destroying natural habitats

Dams interrupting natural flow of estuaries

The Great Lakes- St. The Great Lakes- St. Lawrence LowlandsLawrence Lowlands

Smallest region in Canada

Densely populated

Has escarpments (Niagara Falls)

Rolling landscape from glacier movement

Flat plains,hills, deep river valleys

Plains by St Lawrence River rise into Appalachian and Shield regions

Climate is humid and continental (develops away from oceans)

Winters cool/cold and summers are warm/hot

Great Lakes warm winters and cool summers

Fertile soils

Had once the largest Broad leafed forest

Deciduous and Coniferous trees (maple, oak, birch)

Agriculture from long growing season

Commerce and manufacturing due to dense population

Contaminants from smokestacks in air/rivers

Pollutants in water effecting species and habitats

The Interior PlainsThe Interior Plains

Large, vast sweep of plains

In US divided into Central Lowlands/Great Plains

Very diverse (stretches from Gulf of Mexico to Arctic)

Generally flat, some rolling hills

Long warm summers, cold winters, not much precipitation

Climate colder as you move North

Northern parts have arctic climate

Weather can be severe (tornadoes)

Great Plains have prairie grasses

Central Lowlands have deciduous and evergreen trees

Grassland and boreal forest

Tundra near Arctic

Farming (livestock and food)

Mining (zinc, oil, natural gas)

Farm pollutants and water shortages due to dry climate and water needed by farm/oil industries

The Canadian ShieldThe Canadian ShieldOver 2 billion years old

Half of Canada

Has eroded mountain volcanoes

Ice age left barren rock

Glaciers moved ground creating muskeg

Climate varies, more temperate in South

Further North has cold and long winters

Boreal forest

Trees generally weak and small

Mining (copper, golf, zinc, iron)

Foresting (pulp and paper industry)

Acid rain from power plants

Overuse and over extraction of natural resource

Intermountain RegionIntermountain RegionSparsely populated

Between Rockies and Cascades

Interior plateau valleys of BC and Yukon

High plateaus, mountains, and deserts

Many streams and rivers don't reach oceans

Brackish (salty lakes)

Rain shadow due to western mountains

Winters cold/wet or hot/dry based on region

South is warm with little precipitation

North has a milder climate

Grasslands,

Plants that can withstand desert climate

Thin pine forests in high elevations

Cattle ranching

Crop cultivation

Water problems due to global warming

Change in snow, melting ice patterns

Species endangerment because of climate changes

The Western CordilleraThe Western Cordillera

Mountainous

Consists of new un eroded mountains

Rock mountains continental divide

Mountains separated by river valleys and plateaus

Maritime climate (influenced by oceans)

Parts among wettest places on earth

Winters mild, summers cool

Vegetation varies

Evergreens grow old and tall

Grasses grow on mountain slopes

Vegetation on mountaintops similar to that of tundra

Mining (zinc, copper, gold, coal)

Lumber and fishing (Pacific Ocean)

Over foresting erodes slopes faster and destroys habitats

Reservoirs disrupt fish travelling

Habitats destroyed for livestock grazing

The Arctic PlainsThe Arctic PlainsLowlands and mountains

Islands north of Hudson's Bay

Mountains in far north (covered by glaciers)

Mostly flat

Severe climate due to distance from equator

Long, cold 10 month winters

Summers generally short and cool

Desert due to lack of precipitation

Few life forms due to climate

Lichen

Trees can't withstand climate

Small shrubs, mosses on tundra

Global warming causing melting ice (leading to species destruction)

Organisms moving further north

Permafrost less reliable due to increasing temperature

Shiny ice and snow melting not reflecting sun rays, increasing temperature

Environmental changes effecting the rest of the world as well

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