Notes for intro unit2

Cornell NotesHomework Review

I-II

I Region

 Most of North America. 1.Canada and Alaska (north) 2. 48 continental US (south)

Bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic, Artic Ocean & Gulf of Mex.

US/ Can. Share Great Lakes and St. Lawrence river

II Physical Features

Center=shield and plains

Mountains to the east and west.

Large glaciers that scraped through eastern and central Canada created this shield.

Shield

-A flat area in the center of US-Canada running from Artcic- Mex.

Glacier

-Large mass of ice found in cold areas and valleys RIVER OF ICE

Plains

-Flat or gently rolling area of land.

Canada and AlaskaCanadian Shield

Covers almost half of Canada

Created by glaciers

Lakes- Great Lakes

Largest freshwater lakesConnected by St.

Lawrence River

Northern Canada

Hudson BayMany small lakes and

islands

Alaskan Mountain Range

Far westMount McKinley = highest

peak in North America

Continental US-MountainsAppalachians

Eastern USVery old- Eroded! Gentle range of rounded

peaks and deep valleys

Rocky Mountains

West US (highest peaks on continental US -14k ft.)

Jagged, snow-capped peaks

Reach from Alaska to Mex.

Plains

B/w these last 2 Mt. ranges

Dry and treeless- mostly grassland veg.

Rivers

Drain out of Rocky Mt and Appalachian Mt.

Flow into the Mississippi River

CLIMATE

Varies from chilly Artic to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico

Northern parts of region = Tundra and Subartic zones (does not get far above freezing with very little rain or snow)

Canada and Alaska

Warms up closer to the US (humid continental climate)

Nearly all of Canada and Alaska have heavy snow all winter

West coast of Canada =Marine West Coast climate with more rain than snow

Continental US(South)

Warm all year round Majority is Humid

subtropical climateFlorida = tropical wet and

dry (hot all year with both rainy and dry seasons)

Southwest

Both arid and semiarid climates

Many people move here for the hot dry climate

Western

Mts. Have highlands climate

Pacific Coast has a Mts. have marine west coast

CA has almost every climate zone (dep. on region!)

Midwest and Northeast

Humid continental climate

Very distinct seasons (unlike California)

IV VEGITATION

Many diff. veg. zones b/c of size!

Temperate grassland =Great Plains US and Canada

Tundra = covers a majority of the northern subregion

Canada and AlaskaNorthern Canada

Much of the land is tundraClose to the Artic Ocean =

ice cap areas

b) Forests

Most of Can. and AK have coniferous forests

Warmer south. Can. support mixed forests with DECIDUOUS trees.

Continental United States East Coast

North

All types of forestsSpread up and down the

coast

SOUTH

Tropical grasslandsTrees adapt to the

tropical wet and dry climate

b. CENTRAL

Temperate grassland veg. zone

Great for farming

WEST

Coniferous forestsDesert Scrub in the desertChaparral in the Coast

Ranges (Lakeside!)

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Large countries BUT pop. small for its size.

Even though Canada and the US same size, pop. US is 9 x Canada’s

similar cultural backgrounds (English speaking, although Canada officially speaks French also, settled by Europeans and enriched with immigration)

HISTORYEARLY TIMES

Hunters that migrated to AK from Asia over ice “bridge”

10,000+ years ago(became native north and

south Americans)

Eskimos= Inuit

Located in Northern subregion

Hunt Artic animals

OTHERS

settled along the west coast and into southwest United States

COLONIAL PERIOD -US

British coloniesBecame independent

from England Civil War

Fought between 1861-1865

Ended slavery in the United States

COLONIAL CANADA

Colonized by the FrenchGreat Britain gained control

in 17631867, Canada won the right

to govern themselves, but are still a part of the British Empire

III Modern EraRelationship

US-Can have a strong bond

Both sides welcomed Canada’s independence from Great Britain in 1931

b. WAR

WWII broke out in Europe and Asia

Canada and the US worked together

TRADE

Closely linked by tradeNAFTA (North American

FreeTrade Agreement) – allows most goods to move freely among Canada, the US and Mexico

POPULATION 325 million people live in Canada and the US,

(6% of the world’s population)

One of the largest in the world but parts of the region almost empty (Northern Canada, b/c climate and vegetation thinly settled with a pop. density as low as one person per 43 sq. miles.)

Majority of the Canada’s pop. lives close to the US Canada border

People cluster near cities (jobs!) Most people Christian, but also: Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Rich in resources.

Main type of econ. activity = commercial farming (wheat)

Wheat grown in the U.S. exported and accounts for about half of the world’s grain exports.

Forestry= major economic activity of this area.

1. RESOURCES

Oil and coalUsed for energyFound in Texas, Alaska

and Alberta, CanadaCoal mined in Rocky Mts.

and Appalachian Mts.

b. MINERALS

GoldNickelCopper

2. LAND USE

Much is used for raising livestock

Trade and manufacturing are strong in urban (CITY!) centers