Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Where in the World Wednesday?
Transcript
US and Canada: Physical Geography Physical Features • The two countries share many physical characteristics. • Much of the area is dominated by grassy plains and mountain chains. Mountain Ranges • Eastern North America the Appalachian Mountains • Western North America dominated by the Rocky Mountains – Also the Pacific Ranges: Sierra Nevada, Coast Range, and Cascades Plains • Coastal Plains near Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Coast • Great Plains between Appalachian Mts. and Rocky Mts. – From the South by the Gulf of Mexico all the way up to the icy tundra in Canada Rivers • Mississippi River is the largest on the continent. – Ohio and Missouri Rivers are tributaries of the Miss. River. • Other major rivers include the Colorado, Columbia, Saint Lawrence, Yukon, and the Rio Grande Major Bodies of Water • Bering Sea and Bering Strait separate North America and Asia • Gulf of Mexico made up of Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean • North America has 8 of the world’s 12 largest freshwater lakes – Including the 5 Great Lakes • Also has one major saltwater lake Canadian Shield • Also known as the Laurentian Plateau • Huge expanse of igneous rock (comes from volcanoes) covered by a thin layer of soil • Gives us an idea of how the northern portion of the United States was formed Climate and Vegetation Polar Zones • Polar Climate – Northern Canada and Alaska – Winters are long and cold, summers short and cool • Tundra has very little vegetation • Pine forests toward the southern portion of Canada Climate and Vegetation Temperate Zones • Temperate Climate – Most of Canada and the United States – Humid climates with year-round precipitation • Trees vary from broadleaf trees to pine forests dependent on region – Some of the world’s largest trees found in the Pacific Northwest • Prairies used mostly for ranching and farming Climate and Vegetation Tropical Zones • Tropical Climate – Southern states – Humid and dry in the southeast – Arid and dry in the southwest • Palm trees grow in the coastal areas of California, Florida, and Hawaii • Southwest portion of United States filled with desert vegetation Weather • Experiences most types of natural disasters – Volcanoes along the Pacific Coast – Droughts in the Southwest – Tornados in the central plains – Hurricanes/Tropical Storms along the Gulf and East Coast – Floods in areas with lots of rainfall/rivers – Heavy snow/avalanches in mountainous areas Resources • Water – Allow for shipping and fishing industries to be successful • Land – North America is the leading food exporter in the world. – Lots of woodlands and lumber resources • Mineral and Fossil Fuels – Valuable deposits of iron ore, nickel, copper, and gold – Natural gas/oil and coal deposits allow for energy producing resources to come from within
