Download North America Physical and Political aspects

North America
Physical and Political aspects
Regions
North America is broken up
into regions. Popularly these
are divded up into west,
midwest, south, and northeast.
Each regions have aspects about
it that make it unique. Whether
it be climate, culture or even
the demographics of the area.
Culture and Migration
Culture- The way of life that distinguishes a
people, for example, government, language,
religion, customs and beliefs.
Migration- Movement from one part of something
to another.
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Physical Characteristics
 Look at the handout.
 Take a minute to answer the questions of the handout about the
Physical Cross section of the US.
Climates of the United States
Mountains, Deserts, and
Oceans all affect the
climates of the United
States
Watersheds
Major Waterways of America
Mississippi River (watershed)
Physical Characteristics of Northeast
North America
Northeast America has some of the
most populous cities in all of
America. This is also where the
most densely populated area of
America is found.
Known for having four seasons, and
beautiful scenery. A lot of tourism
to visit cities such as Philadelphia,
New York City, Boston, Baltimore,
and Washington DC.
Megalopolis- greek for very large
city. A city that has more than 10
million citizens.
What the Northeast is known for
 Has few natural resources compared to other regions of the
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United States.
Appalachian Mountains make for rugged terrain which is difficult
to farm properly.
Pennsylvania is very coal rich but biggest industry for Northeast is
the trade and commerce that can be used by the Atlantic ocean
being right beside it.
Fishing is also a major industry for the Northeast since colonial
times.
Factories are built along rivers and powered by water in area.
River valleys serve as trade routes.
New York City is business capital of the WORLD.
Physical Features of South Region
The south region is known for humid,
subtropical climate and lush, mixed forests that
are common.
Location is closer to the equator making it
warmer than other regions in the US further
north.
The further west you travel in the south the less
precipitation that is received in the given area.
Subject to many hurricanes in the Gulf of
Mexico.
Changing Population that is the South
 The region is becoming more and more
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diverse racially with more Latinos in
areas such as Texas, and Florida.
In 1970’s the population of the southern
region increased more than any other
region in the US.
Three of the countries top 6 sized cities
land area are found in Texas, and Texas is
second in population only to California.
Half of America’s African American
population are found in this region.
San Antonio became the first major city
in America that has a majority Hispanic
population.
Industries in the south
Oil is a big industry in the southern
region and is a big way that USA makes
money and adds to our economy.
NASA is based in the southern region
in more than one location in Houston
and in Florida as well.
Cattle industry is still a big business in
the south as well as crop growing
because of climate.
The Midwest Region
• The Midwest is largely an
agricultural economic sector.
• Much of the area is flat in
nature and results in good soil
for farming.
• In some areas the growing
season can be as long as 200
days.
• Among the leaders in livestock
in America especially hogs.
• Known as our countries
breadbasket and leads the
WORLD in growing of certain
crops such as corn, and wheat.
• Over 400 million tons of
goods travel Mississippi river.
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The Wild West Region Physical
Mountains dominate landscape of the west Features
with Rocky Mountains being a big reason
for this.
Death Valley is found in the west and is
considered the hottest place on earth.
Climates change drastically from the
tundras found in Alaska to the tropical
climate of Hawaii.
Immense store of minerals in the
mountains such as gold, silver and
uranium.
Gas and oil also found in parts of the West
as well.
Forestry and commercial fishing are both
big economic activities, nearly half of
lumber in America is taken from forests of
Pacific Northwest.
Billions of tons of fish in waters of Hawaii
and Alaska.
West Growing over time
• Because of construction of
transcontinental railroad
cities that were along its
path gained a lot of
population.
• Los Angeles is the second
highest populated city in
our country.
• San Francisco and much of
northwest gained
population with the gold
rush of the 1840s.
Hawaii & Alaska
Alaska is the biggest state that we have in our country and
it is also one of the least populated with about 630,000
citizens.
Juneau is the state capital and can only be reached by boat
or airplane.
Anchorage Alaska a town with 250,000 has only two
roads that leave in and out of it.
Hawaii is made up of 8 main ilands.
We initially took control of Hawaii with hopes to put
bases in the middle of Pacific since we were dealing with
China and Japan more frequently.
Hawaii receives some of the most tourism in all of
America.
Regions of Canada
• There are 5 different regions in
Canada that we will be discussing.
• The Atlantic Provinces
• St Lawrence Provinces
• Prairie Provinces
• British Columbia
• Northern Territories
Atlantic and St. Lawrence Provinces
 The Atlantic provinces are made up of four parts being
Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New
Brunswick.
 Border the Atlantic Ocean, and are a part of the northern
Appalachian mountains. Fishing is a prominent economic activity.
Cod fish overtime had become very scarce so they had to go into
other realms of fishing with crabs and shrimp.
 St. Lawrence Province is where the majority of Canada’s
population is found. It surrounds the great lakes.
 Quebec and Ontario are the heartland of the country and located
in this province. Toronto is located in Ontario, and is the biggest
city in all of Canada population wise.
Prairie Province and British Columbia
• Prairie Province is made up of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
• Known for its rolling fields of wheat big in agricultural industry.
• Edmonton and Calgary are the two major cities found in the prairie
province.
• British Columbia is the westernmost province in all of Canada.
• Mountain ranges cover nearly all of what is British Columbia.
• Salmon, forests, and minerals have made British Columbia one of the
wealthiest provinces in all of Canada.
• Vancouver is located in this Province and it is the biggest major port
for Canada that is found in the pacific ocean.
• Asian immigration to Vancouver is very high.
Northern Territories
 This is the northern 40% of Canada that is the Yukon
territory, Northwest territories, and Nunavut territory.
 Cold tundra climate and populations in these areas tend to be
of smaller sizes.
 Many of those living in the area have been native for
centuries and are known as Inuits.
 Rich deposits of minerals such as gold, silver, copper, zinc,
lead, iron ore, and uranium are all found in this region as
well as oil.
The Make Up and Culture of Canada
• The first people to live in Canada
were the Inuit natives.
• In 1500s rival European powers
started settling in Canada.
• Roughly 40% of Canada is of British
descent while 27% are French
descent.
• Between 1689-1763 French and
British would fight four wars in
Canada over claim of land, in 1763
France lost all claim in Canada.
• Canada became completely
independent of Britain in 1931.
Canada Today
 Some concerns about overfishing and the use of over-ground
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pipelines effecting Caribou migration patterns.
Canada is becoming more and more urbanized by the year with
over 20 cities having populations of over 100,000.
The border with the USA is the biggest undefended border in all
of the world it stretches more than 5,000 miles.
Many shows that are shown here in America are also shown in
parts of Canada that lie close to the border.
USA buys about 85% of all Canadian exports and they buy about
25% of all of our exports.
Fear of uneven treatment of countries is prevalent and many
Canadians don’t want to be seen as the “attic to another
continent.”