The Physical Geography of The Physical Geography of the United States and the United States and

CanadaCanada

Chapter 5: Section 1Chapter 5: Section 1

The LandThe Land

I. LandformsI. Landforms

Western MountainsWestern Mountains

Mt. McKinley (20,320 ft) – Alaska RangeMt. McKinley (20,320 ft) – Alaska Range

Rocky Mountains (14,000 ft) – Pacific RangeRocky Mountains (14,000 ft) – Pacific Range Stretch over 3,000 milesStretch over 3,000 miles

PlateausPlateaus

Death Valley (lowest place in the United Death Valley (lowest place in the United States)States)

Grand Canyon (6,000 ft deep)Grand Canyon (6,000 ft deep)

Interior LandformsInterior Landforms

East of the Rockies, the land falls and East of the Rockies, the land falls and flattens into the Great Plains, which extend flattens into the Great Plains, which extend across the center of North America.across the center of North America.

Eastern Mountains and LowlandsEastern Mountains and Lowlands

Appalachian Mountains (extend 1,500 Appalachian Mountains (extend 1,500 miles) miles) Oldest mountain chain in North AmericaOldest mountain chain in North America

The Canadian ShieldThe Canadian Shield

IslandsIslands

The Hawaiian islandsThe Hawaiian islands Volcanic mountaintopsVolcanic mountaintops

Greenland Greenland World’s largest island, is just off the coast of World’s largest island, is just off the coast of

Canada’s Ellesmere Island. Canada’s Ellesmere Island.

II. A Fortune in WaterII. A Fortune in Water

Rivers from the RockiesRivers from the Rockies

The high ridge of the Rockies is called the The high ridge of the Rockies is called the Continental Divide. Water flows west of the Continental Divide. Water flows west of the Divide toward the Pacific Ocean and east of the Divide toward the Pacific Ocean and east of the Divide into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Divide into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.Mexico.

The Mighty MississippiThe Mighty Mississippi

Mississippi River (2,350 miles)Mississippi River (2,350 miles) Minnesota – Gulf of MexicoMinnesota – Gulf of Mexico Drains 31 U.S. states & 2 Canadian ProvincesDrains 31 U.S. states & 2 Canadian Provinces

Eastern Rivers Eastern Rivers

St. Lawrence River St. Lawrence River One of Canada’s most important riversOne of Canada’s most important rivers Helps form the U.S. – Canada borderHelps form the U.S. – Canada border

Eastern RiversEastern Rivers

Niagara RiverNiagara River Home of Niagara FallsHome of Niagara Falls

From Glaciers to LakesFrom Glaciers to Lakes

Glacial dams created Canada’s Great Glacial dams created Canada’s Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake. Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.

From Glaciers to LakesFrom Glaciers to Lakes

The Great Lakes- Superior, Erie, The Great Lakes- Superior, Erie, Michigan, Ontario and Huron- are basins Michigan, Ontario and Huron- are basins created by glacial activity. created by glacial activity.

St. Lawrence Seaway SystemSt. Lawrence Seaway System

Why is the St. Lawrence Seaway System Why is the St. Lawrence Seaway System important to the U.S. & Canada? important to the U.S. & Canada?

III. Natural ResourcesIII. Natural Resources

FuelsFuels

An abundance of resources, such as fossil fuels and minerals, has An abundance of resources, such as fossil fuels and minerals, has contributed to the prosperity of the United States and Canada.contributed to the prosperity of the United States and Canada.

Canada is the 6Canada is the 6thth largest oil producer in the world largest oil producer in the world United States is the 3United States is the 3rdrd largest oil producer in the world largest oil producer in the world

Minerals Minerals

Gold, silver, and copper are found in the Gold, silver, and copper are found in the Rocky Mountains. Nickel and iron are Rocky Mountains. Nickel and iron are mined in parts of the Canadian Shield. mined in parts of the Canadian Shield. Deposits of low-grade iron ore exist in Deposits of low-grade iron ore exist in northern Minnesota and Michigan. Canada northern Minnesota and Michigan. Canada supplies much of the world’s potash supplies much of the world’s potash (potassium), copper, and silver.(potassium), copper, and silver.

TimberTimber

Today forests cover less than 50 percent of Today forests cover less than 50 percent of Canada and just 30 percent of the United States. Canada and just 30 percent of the United States. Commercial loggers face the challenge of Commercial loggers face the challenge of harvesting trees while preserving the remaining harvesting trees while preserving the remaining forests.forests.

Fishing Fishing

The coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific The coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico are important Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico are important sources of fish and other sea animals. sources of fish and other sea animals. Because of over-fishing, however, the Grand Because of over-fishing, however, the Grand

Banks, off Canada’s southeast coast, are Banks, off Canada’s southeast coast, are now off limits to cod fishers.now off limits to cod fishers.

The Physical Geography of The Physical Geography of the United States and the United States and

CanadaCanada

Chapter 5: Section 2Chapter 5: Section 2

Climate and Vegetation Climate and Vegetation

I. A Varied RegionI. A Varied Region

A Varied RegionA Varied Region

2/3 of Canada and the U.S. state of Alaska 2/3 of Canada and the U.S. state of Alaska experience long, cold winters and brief, experience long, cold winters and brief, mild summers. Most of the continental mild summers. Most of the continental United States and the southern one-third United States and the southern one-third of Canada enjoy temperate climates, of Canada enjoy temperate climates, depending on elevation. Hawaii, in the depending on elevation. Hawaii, in the South Pacific, has a tropical climate.South Pacific, has a tropical climate.

II. Northern ClimatesII. Northern Climates

Northern ClimatesNorthern Climates

Large parts of Canada and Alaska lie in a Large parts of Canada and Alaska lie in a sub-arctic climate zone with very cold sub-arctic climate zone with very cold winters and extensive coniferous forests winters and extensive coniferous forests Winter temperatures can fall as low as -70 Winter temperatures can fall as low as -70 degrees. degrees.

Northern ClimatesNorthern Climates

Bitter winters and cool summers in the Bitter winters and cool summers in the tundra along the Arctic coastline make the tundra along the Arctic coastline make the area unsuitable for most plants or people. area unsuitable for most plants or people. Greenland boasts only a few ice-free Greenland boasts only a few ice-free areas with some extremely hardy trees. areas with some extremely hardy trees.

III. Western ClimatesIII. Western Climates

Western ClimatesWestern Climates

A marine west coast climate brings nearly 100 A marine west coast climate brings nearly 100 inches of rainfall every year to the Pacific coast inches of rainfall every year to the Pacific coast from California to southern Alaska. This amount from California to southern Alaska. This amount of precipitation, combined with cool of precipitation, combined with cool temperatures, is ideal for coniferous forests, temperatures, is ideal for coniferous forests, ferns, and mosses.ferns, and mosses.

Highland ClimateHighland Climate

Elevation gives the higher reaches of the Elevation gives the higher reaches of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ranges a Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ranges a highlands climate. (Cool to Cold)highlands climate. (Cool to Cold)

IV. Interior ClimatesIV. Interior Climates

PrairiesPrairies

Prairies or naturally treeless expanses of Prairies or naturally treeless expanses of grasses, spread across North America’s grasses, spread across North America’s mid-section.mid-section.

V. Eastern ClimatesV. Eastern Climates

Eastern ClimatesEastern Climates

Southeastern United States,Southeastern United States, Humid Subtropical Climate Humid Subtropical Climate

Mild Winters, Long muggy summersMild Winters, Long muggy summers

Much of the original deciduous forest has been cleared for Much of the original deciduous forest has been cleared for agriculture. Wetlands and swamps shelter a great variety of agriculture. Wetlands and swamps shelter a great variety of plants and animals. Every summer, the region prepares for plants and animals. Every summer, the region prepares for hurricanes.hurricanes.

Eastern ClimatesEastern Climates

Northeastern United States & Northeastern United States & Southeastern Canada Southeastern Canada Humid Continental ClimateHumid Continental Climate

Deciduous & Mixed ForestDeciduous & Mixed Forest

Winter Blizzards. Winter Blizzards.

VI. Tropical ClimatesVI. Tropical Climates

Tropical ClimatesTropical Climates

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the southern tip Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the southern tip of Florida have tropical climates. Southern of Florida have tropical climates. Southern Florida has a tropical savanna area, and Florida has a tropical savanna area, and both Hawaii and Puerto Rico have a both Hawaii and Puerto Rico have a tropical rain forests.tropical rain forests.