CH 5 Sec 1 Physical Geography of US and CanadaLandforms and Resources

• Prior Knowledge- How do you think America’s location, size, landforms, and resources have helped in this countries success? Give examples

• What are some problems that growth and industrialization have created in US?– Objective- Identify key features of the US and

Canada’s physical geography and human-environment interaction

• Landscape- has contributed to US and Canada’s success– Vast Lands- 2nd and 3rd largest countries in

world, located between 4 major bodies of water (Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Gulf of Mexico)

• Different Landforms (P 118)– Eastern Lowlands- flat land along Atlantic

Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, lots of good harbors

– Appalachian Mountains- oldest mountains in N.Am., just inland of East Coast, eroded (only 1,200-2,400 ft high)

• Different Landforms (cont)– Interior Lowlands– level areas flattened by

glaciers during Ice Age, thousands of lakes and rivers, very fertile soil

• Different Landforms (cont) Western Mountains– Rocky Mountains- largest mountain chain, young, very high

(12,000ft)• What are 2 differences between the Rocky and Appalachian Mts?

– Sierra Nevada - highest Mountains in CA. (Mt. Whitney highest mountain in 48 states (14,505ft)

• Death Valley- P 119 hottest place in US (130*+), lowest spot in US (-282ft below sea level)

• Islands– Canada- Ellesmere, Victoria, Baffin- huge islands,

very far north and cold, very few people Inuit-Eskimos)

– Aleutian Islands- Alaska, volcanic– Hawaii- center of pacific, tropical,

• Neither Hawaii and Aleutian Islands do not touch touch US and Canada, they are part of US

• Resources- US and Canada blessed with resources that help country to grow and become rich– Oceans and Waterways- allows transportation, fresh water,

hydroelectric power, irrigation, and fisheries– 8 of the largest 15 lakes in US and Canada

• Great Lakes- Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Erie– Forests- ½ Canada covered by forests, 1/3 of US (space to grow, timber– Minerals and Fossil Fuels- (P120) both countries have vast deposits of

iron ore, nickel, copper, gold, uranium, coal, natural gas, and oil (1 reason US and Canada are rich)

• Where is most of the oil found in the US?