Physical Geography of the United States and Canada: A Land of Contrasts North America’s vast and varied landscape and abundant resources have attracted immigrants and shaped the development of the United States and Canada.

The Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming was formed by erosion. It was named a national monument in 1906.

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SECTION 1 Landforms and Resources

SECTION 2 Climate and Vegetation

Physical Geography

Looking at the Earth

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SECTION 3 Human-Environment Interaction

Unit Atlas: PoliticalUnit Atlas: Physical

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Section 1

Landforms and Resources • The United States and Canada have vast

lands and abundant resources.

• These two countries share many of the same landforms.

Landscape Influenced Development

Anglo America • U.S., Canada: former British colonies, most people

speak English • Strong economic and political ties with one another

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Vast Lands • Canada second largest country in the world by area;

U.S. third • Together they cover one-eighth of the earth’s land

surface

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Abundant Resources • Landmass and natural resources attract immigrants

to both countries • U.S. and Canada have developed into global

economic powers

continued Landscape Influenced Development

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Many and Varied Landforms

Major Landforms • All major landforms are found in U.S. and Canada • The two countries share mountain chains and

interior plains

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The Eastern Lowlands • Atlantic Coastal Plain extends from Delaware down

to Florida • Gulf Coastal Plain goes from Florida, along Gulf of

Mexico, to Texas • Piedmont—low plateau between coastal plains,

Appalachian Highlands

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The Appalachian Highlands • Appalachian Mountains run 1,600 miles from

Newfoundland to Alabama- include Green and Catskill mountains in the

north- Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains in

the south • More than 400 million years old • Erosion has created gentle slopes, peaks from

1,200–2,400 feet • The Appalachian Trail is a scenic hiking path along

the chain

continued Many and Varied Landforms

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The Interior Lowlands • Glaciers leveled the land, left fertile soil • Interior Plains extend from Appalachians to

Missouri River • Great Plains extend from Missouri River to Rocky

Mountains • Canadian Shield—vast, flat area around Hudson

Bay

continued Many and Varied Landforms

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The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins

• Rocky Mountains run 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico

• Relatively young: 80 million years old • Less erosion means rugged, 12,000-foot, snow-

covered peaks • Continental Divide—the line of highest points along

the Rockies- separates rivers that flow eastward from those

that flow westward

continued Many and Varied Landforms

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The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins • Other Pacific mountain ranges: Sierra Nevada,

Cascade • Continent’s highest peak: Mt. McKinley in Alaska • Major earthquake activity in Pacific ranges • Between ranges and Rockies: cliffs, canyons, basins

(low desert)

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continued Many and Varied Landforms

The Islands • Canada’s large, northern islands: Ellesmere,

Victoria, Baffin • U.S.: Aleutians (Alaska), Hawaiian (politically, not

geographically)

Resources Shape Ways of Life

Oceans and Waterways • U.S. and Canada are bounded by:

- Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic oceans- Gulf of Mexico

• Countries have many large, inland rivers and lakes that provide:- transportation, hydroelectric power, irrigation,

fresh water, fisheries

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Oceans and Waterways • Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie,

and Superior • Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio river system:

continent’s longest, busiest • Mackenzie River: longest in Canada, crosses

Northwest Territories

continued Resources Shape Ways of Life

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Interactive

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Land and Forests • Fertile soil helps make North America world’s

leading food exporter • Large forests yield lumber and other products

Minerals and Fossil Fuels • Mineral quantity and variety make rapid

industrialization possible- Canadian Shield: iron ore, nickel, copper,

gold, uranium- Appalachians, Great Plains: coal - Gulf of Mexico: oil, natural gas

• U.S.: biggest energy consumer; gets most of Canada’s energy exports

continued Resources Shape Ways of Life

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Section 2

Climate and Vegetation • Almost every type of climate is found in the

50 United States because they extend over such a large area north to south.

• Canada’s cold climate is related to its location in the far northern latitudes.

Shared Climates and Vegetation

U.S. and Canada Climates • U.S. has more climate zones than Canada • U.S.: moderate mid-latitudes, Canada: colder high

latitudes

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Colder Climates • Arctic coast is tundra: huge, treeless plain with

long, cold winters - some permafrost—permanently frozen ground

• Rockies and Pacific ranges are highland: colder, sparse vegetation- affect weather in lower areas: block Arctic air, trap

Pacific moisture

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Moderate Climates • North central, northeast U.S, southern Canada

are humid continental- cold winters; warm summers; heavy agriculture

• Pacific coast has marine west coast climate- warm summers; long, mild, rainy winters;

mixed vegetation - climate affected by ocean currents, coastal

mountains, westerlies - prevailing westerlies—middle-latitude winds

blowing west to east

continued Shared Climates and Vegetation

Differences in Climate and Vegetation

Milder Climates • Much of U.S. located south of 40 degrees N latitude

- milder, dry, and tropical climates • Southern states are humid subtropical

- hot summers; mild winters; long growing seasonfor variety of crops

• Central, southern California coasts have Mediterranean climate- dry, warm summers; mild, rainy winters; fruits,

vegetables grow well

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Dry Climates • Great Plains, northern Great Basin semiarid: dry

with short grasses • Southwest is hot, dry desert, including Mojave

and Sonoran deserts

continued Differences in Climate and Vegetation

Tropical Climates • Hawaii is tropical wet: rain forests, temps around 70

degrees F- Mount Waialeale on Kauai Island is one of the

wettest spots on earth • South Florida is tropical wet and dry: warm with tall

grasses- Everglades—swampland covering 4,000

square miles

Effects of Extreme Weather

Natural Hazards • Warm Gulf air clashes with cold Canadian air over

the Great Plains- creates thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards

• Hurricanes sweep the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in summer and fall

• Heavy rains cause floods along big rivers like the Mississippi

• Heat, lack of rain bring droughts, dust storms, forest fires

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Map

Appalachian Trail Activity!!

• Visit www.appalachiantrail.org

• Click on “Interactive Map”

• Draw the “AT” on your blank map

• Choose FIVE features

• List 3-4 solid facts about the features you choose

• Have Fun!

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Section 3

Human-Environment Interaction • Humans have dramatically changed the

face of North America.

• European settlements in the United States and Canada expanded from east to west.

Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land

Settlement • Before humans, land changed due to natural forces:

weather, erosion • Human settlers adapted to, and changed, the

environment • First North Americans were nomads, moving from

place to place - migrated from Asia over Beringia, a land bridge

from Siberia to Alaska- hunted, fished, and gathered plants; settled near

rivers and streams

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Agriculture • Agriculture replaced hunting and gathering 3,000

years ago • Settlements became permanent

- cut down trees for houses, plow fields, dig irrigation ditches

- plant corn, beans, squash • Today U.S. and Canada are leading agriculture

exporters

continued Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land

Building Cities

Where Cities Grow • Water access a major factor in how towns begin,

develop • Other factors: landscape, climate, weather, natural

resources

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Montreal—Adapting to the Weather • Canada’s second-largest city; major port located on

island in Quebec- meeting of St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers make it

important trade site • French build permanent settlement in 1642 at base

of Mount Royal • Cold winters force people to stay inside and build

underground areas

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Los Angeles—Creating Urban Sprawl • Mild climate and the ocean bring thousands to

area in early 1900s- once-small Spanish settlement expanded into

valleys and foothills • Becomes U.S.’s second-largest city in 1980s

- problems: air pollution, low water supply,earthquake area

• Los Angeles has spread out over a large area- city proper: 469 square miles; metropolitan

area: 4,060 square miles

continued Building Cities

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Overcoming Distances

Trails and Inland Waterways • First natives go east, south down Pacific coast;

some remain north • Europeans colonize the east coast then go inland,

creating trails- national and Wilderness roads, Oregon and Santa

Fe trails- use Mississippi and Ohio rivers; build canals- Erie Canal—first navigable water link between

Atlantic, Great Lakes

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Trails and Inland Waterways • St. Lawrence Seaway—deepwater ship route

built by U.S. and Canada • Connects Great Lakes to Atlantic by way of St.

Lawrence River • Gated-off sections called locks raise and lower

the water and ships • Large ocean vessels can get to industrial and

agricultural heartland

continued Overcoming Distances

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Transcontinental Railroads • Transcontinental—from the Atlantic Ocean to

the Pacific Ocean • Builders of early-1800s railroads face many natural

barriers- workers cut down forests, bridge streams,

tunnel through mountains • First U.S. transcontinental railroad: 1860; first

Canadian: 1885 • Move goods, people; promote economic

development, national unity • Today U.S. has world’s largest rail system; Canada,

third largest

continued Overcoming Distances

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National Highway Systems • Arrival of automobile spurs roadbuilding in early

20th century • Today U.S. has 4 million miles of roads, Canada

has 560,000 miles • Large Canadian highways connect major southern

cities from east to west- Trans-Canada Highway: 4,860 miles,

Newfoundland to British Columbia • U.S. interstate highway system: 46,000-mile network

begun in 1950s

continued Overcoming Distances