unit 2: the united states and canada chapter 5: physical geography
TRANSCRIPT
Unit 2: The United States and Canada
Chapter 5: Physical Geography
Chapter 5, Section 1: Landforms and Resources
Landscape
• United States and Canada are located in North America, in the Western Hemisphere. They are both part of the Northern Hemisphere.
• Oceans surrounding these two countries are the Atlantic (East Coast) and Pacific (West Coast)
• Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world, America is the 3rd .
Resources
Landforms
• Eastern Lowlands– Flat, coastal plain
along Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Landforms
• Appalachian Highlands– Appalachian Mountains• 1600 miles from
Newfoundland, Canada to Alabama• Green, Catskill, Blue
Ridge, Great Smoky• Peaks about 1200-2400 ft
Landforms
• Interior Lowlands– Interior Plains– Great Plains– Appalachians – Canadian Shield
Landforms
• Western Mountains, Plateaus, Basins– Rocky Mountains– Continental Divide– Sierra Nevada and
Cascade Ranges– Denali/Mt.
McKinley is the tallest peak on the continent
– Earthquakes common
Landforms• The Islands– Canadian islands
near Arctic Circle– Aleutian Islands
located off of Alaska
– Hawaiian Islands• A state of
America but located in the Pacific (ie not part of North America)
Oceans and Waterways
• Atlantic• Pacific• Gulf of Mexico• Great Lakes-
HOMES• Mississippi
River (USA)• Mackenzie
river (Canada)
Land and Forests
• Some of the most fertile soil in the world
• North America is the world’s leading food exporter
• ½ of Canada is covered in forest
• US has more varieties of trees
Minerals and Fossil Fuels
• Iron ore• Nickel• Copper• Gold• Uranium• Silver• Coal• Natural Gas• Oil
Chapter 5, Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
Climates and Vegetation
• Colder Climates– Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada have tundra
climate• Long, cold winters• Brief, chilly summers• Permafrost
Climate and Vegetation
• Moderate Climates– Humid continental climate– Winters are cold, summers
warm– Very productive agricultural
area• Diary, grain, livestock
Climate and Vegetation• Milder Climates– Humid subtropical
climate: summers are hot and muggy, winters are short and cool
– Long growing seasons – Mediterranean:
summers are dry, sunny, warm. Winters can be cool and rainy.
Climate and Vegetation
• Dry Climates– Great Plains and Great
Basin– 15 inches of rain a year– Short grasses and
shrubs– Desert climate
Climate and Vegetation
• Tropical Climates– Hawaii and southern
Florida– Rain forests– Lots of rain, warm
temperatures– Everglades (FL)
Chapter 5, Section 3: Human-Environment Interaction
Agriculture and Cities
• North America is the #1 producer of food world wide
• The soil and varying climates of North America have made agriculture a huge success
• Both America and Canada have urbanized…how they perceive space varies between the countries
Overcoming Distances
• Waterways• Transcontinental RR• Highway System