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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