Download Physical Regions of North America

Physical Regions of North America
Geographically, North America is divided
into a number of regions. These divisions are
based primarily on topography. Generally,
while the national boundaries of North
America run east-west, many of the
geographic regions run north-south.
Even though North American regions have
similar topography, many variations in
climate and vegetation can occur as you
move from north to south.
Appalachian Region
The Appalachian Region is a
mountainous region on the east coast
of North America that stretches from
Alabama through the US,
northeastward to the Maritime
provinces, all the way to
Newfoundland.
Erosion has reduced these old
mountains from sharp, ragged peaks
to rolling mountains and hills.
Deposits of coal, oil, and gas can be
found in the sedimentary layers of
rock. These are called fossil fuels.
Climate is affected by two ocean currents……
What are the two ocean currents?
Coastal Plains
The Coastal Plains are a lowlands that
stretches from Cape Cod along the Atlantic
Coast, including Florida, then westward
along the Gulf of Mexico into Mexico.
Contains swamps and marshes
What river empties into the Gulf of Mexico?
Climate varies greatly from north to south
Hurricanes, violent wind storms that
occur frequently in the Gulf of Mexico, can
winds speeds of 240 kilometers an hour.
How do hurricanes form?
A hurricane in 2005 made landfall on the
Gulf Coast. It decimated communities,
including New Orleans, where a storm
surge broke the levees and flooded the city.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environmentnatural-disasters/hurricanes/katrina-formation/
What was this Hurricane called?
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowland
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowland
is the smallest geographic region in
Canada. The region contains several
escarpments, the best known being the
Niagara, which extends from the waterfall
of the same name.
The St. Lawrence Valley is a rift valley
created by faulting. Later, the Atlantic
Ocean flooded the valley, allowing for
sediment deposits to form; and thus,
fertile soil….
Interior Plains
The Interior Plains are a vast sweep of plain,
but they are not entirely flat. It is composed
of gently rolling hills and deep river valleys.
Because of its huge size, the region is diverse.
It is a continental climate. Therefore, it is a
climate of extremes, far from the moderating
influence of the oceans.
It is a regions subject to tornadoes, most of
which occur during March and June, during
the hottest part of the day.
How do tornadoes form?
Tornadoes are extremely destructive –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvOut9VUqKY&feature=related
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield consists of great volcanic mountains that were leveled by millions
of years of erosion. It is the oldest of the regions in North America and covers more than
half of Canada’s surface area. Glaciation has affected the drainage of the Shield,
resulting in rivers, lakes, swamps and muskeg. The Boreal Forest covers most of the
Shield, since evergreens, such as spruce, pine, and fir, are more suited to the thin soil.
Western Cordillera
The Western Cordillera runs along the
west coast of North America. It consists of
range after range of mountains, separated
by plateaus and valleys.
While the Coast Mountains are volcanic
mountains, the Rocky Mountains are fold
mountains.
What are fold mountains?
The Coastal Range is the product of
tectonic forces. As a result, the west coast
is the most earthquake prone region in all
of North America.
The west coast has a maritime climate.
A unique ecosystem on the west coast can
be found in temperate rainforests from
Alaska to northern California.
Intermountain Region
The Intermountain Region lies between
the Rocky Mountains and Coast Mountains,
the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada. It is of
high plateaus and isolated mountains, and
consists of only deserts south in the US.
It lies in a rain shadow, therefore, it is dry.
Rivers flowing through sedimentary rock
may carve deep and sharply defined
canyons. The Fraser River Canyon, in the
southern part of British Columbia’s interior
plateau, is an example of this geological
process.
Arctic Region
The Arctic Region in northern
Canada is a combination of lowlands
and mountains. Lowlands can be
found lying to the north of Hudson
Bay and mountains to the far
northwest of the Arctic.
Trees cannot grow on the tundra,
either, because the climate is too cold
and dry, and only a small amount of
thawing occurs during the summer.
http://www.videopediaworld.com/video/35521/Canada-The-Arctic-Islands
Permafrost is a characteristic of the
Arctic – this occurs when the ground
is permanently frozen, except for the
few inches at the surface that thaw
during the summer.