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North AmericaPhysical Geography
Landforms
Coastal Plains
Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain: runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico Atlantic: begins in northeastern United States and
extends southward into Florida Gulf of Mexico: extends along the Gulf of Mexico from
Florida into Texas
Flat
2,200 miles
Mostly wet region Includes rivers, swamps, marshes, deltas, and bayous
Appalachian Mountains
On East coast
One of two major mountain chains in the U.S. and Canada
Runs North to South
1,600 miles from Canada to Alabama
More than 400 million years old
Great Lakes
Located on border between U.S. and Canada
HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
One of the world’s major shipping routes
Mississippi River
Runs North to South from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
Branches off into major rivers: Ohio River and Missouri River
Largest river system in the U.S.
About 2,320 miles long
Great Plains
Large, treeless, flat area
West of the Mississippi River and East of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
West of the Great Plains
Other major mountain system in the U.S. and Canada
Extends 3,000 miles from Alaska south to New Mexico
About 80 million years old
Peaks can be more than 12,000 feet high
Continental Divide
The line of highest points in the Rockies that marks the separation between rivers flowing eastward and westward.
There are 4 in North America
Colorado River
Southwestern United States
Carved the Grand Canyon
1,450 miles long
Grand Canyon
Located in Arizona
Carved by Colorado River
227 miles long
In some areas, 18 miles wide
6,000 feet deep
Major tourist attraction
Climate and Vegetation
Shared Climates
Regions: Sub Arctic, Marine West Coast, and Highland
Why is Canada’s climate colder than the United States’?
Different Climates
Tundra – arctic coast of Alaska and Canada Winters are long and cold Summers are short and chilly Treeless plain Permafrost – permanently frozen ground
Mountains and Highlands Climate is colder Rocky Mts. are in this area Area west of mountains are moist because they trap
moisture from Pacific Ocean Vegetation- forest
Different Climates Cont’d
Canada/U.S. Border Cold winters and warm summers Vegetation – forests and grasslands Good for farming and ranching Heavy Canadian population
Southern United States Summers – hot and humid Winters – mild and cool Moist air from Gulf of Mexico causes rain Rain is great for growing crops!
Different Climates Cont’d
Desert region Vegetation – short grass, cactus States with desert climate: New Mexico,
Arizona, California, and Nevada Mojave Desert located here
Tropical Region Wet climate with lush rainforests Usually warm with wet/dry seasons Vegetation – tall grasses and scattered trees States with tropical climate: Florida and Hawaii