Download Chapter 4:The United States and Canada:Physical Geography

Chapter 4:The United States and
Canada:Physical Geography
Lesson 1: Physical Features pg.73
Geography 7th Grade
Location
• United States and Canada
are
located
in
North
America. To the east is the
Atlantic Ocean, to the West
the Pacific Ocean.
• To the North, Canada
borders the Arctic Ocean,
while to the south United
States borders Mexico and
the Gulf of Mexico.
• The United States also
includes Hawaii and Alaska.
Landforms of the U.S.A and Canada
• 1.Rocky Mountains
– Extend about 3,000 miles
along the western section
of the continent. It is the
largest mountain system in
North America.
• Along the spine of the
Rockies
runs
the
Continental Divide, the
boundary that separates
the flow of the rivers to the
oceans.
Continental Divide
•On the east side of
the Rockies, rivers flow
to the Atlantic Ocean,
the Arctic Ocean, and
the Gulf of Mexico.
•On the west side of
the Rockies,
they
flow to the Pacific
Ocean.
Landforms of the U.S.A and Canada
• 2.Appalachian Mountains
– They stretch about 1,600
miles
known
as
the
Laurentian Highlands in
Canada. It is the second
larges mountain system in
North America.
Great Plains and Central Plains
• Between the Rockies and the
Appalachians lies a huge
plains area.
– In Canada they are called the
Interior Plains.
– In the United States they are
called the Great Plains and the
Central Plains.
• Much of this region has rich
soil. Farmers grow crops like
soybeans, corn, wheat, and
ranchers raise livestock.
Special Features of the U.S.A.
1.Sierra Nevada in California
2.Death Valley
– Hottest place in North
America
3.The Cascades
4.Glaciers in Alaska
Sierra Nevada
Death Valley
The Cascades
Glaciers in Alaska
Special Features of Canada
•
•
•
•
1.The Yukon
2.Mount Logan (the highest peak in Canada)
3.The Canadian Shield
4.St. Lawrence Lowlands
Major Bodies of Water
•
Both United States and Candas have important
lakes and rivers.
– The Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron,
Erie, and Ontario) make up the world’s largest
freshwater lakes.
Major Bodies of Water
• St. Lawrence River and Mississippi River
• Canada has two major rivers: Mackenzie River is the longest.
Homework
• For homework do Section 1 Assessment on page
76 # 1-5 for tomorrow.
• Also study map of Western Europe and Capitals.