North America
physical geography
North America is comprised of twenty
three countries, including the Caribbean
islands, Central America, and Greenland (a
commonwealth of Denmark), though in this
unit we will focus on Canada, the United States,
and Mexico. The three countries share similar
landforms that span the land mass, but have very
different climates due to their latitudes. Canada,
the farthest country on the continent from the
equator, has the lowest average temperatures,
especially in the northern part of the country.
Canadian climates range from temperate in
southern and coastal regions, to arctic in the
north. The northern coasts and islands north of
the Arctic Circle are frozen tundra. The United
States experiences a wide variety of climates.
Most of the northeast is continental, while the
southeast is subtropical. Much of the midwest is
semi-arid, while the southwest mainly has a desert
The Rockies (above) have high, jagged peaks, while the Appalachian Mountains
(below) have low, rounded mountaintops.
climate. Parts of California have a mediterranean
climate. Mexico's climate ranges from temperate in
The Rockies are part of the American Cordillera, a
the northern part of the country, to tropical in the
mountain chain that extends the length of the western
south. The Baja-California peninsula is mostly arid.
side of North America. Between the Rockies and the
North America has two large mountain ranges that
western coast of the U.S. lie two smaller mountain
run north and south (one in the west and one in the
ranges. The Cascades run through Washington and
east), and several smaller ranges. The Appalachian
Oregon, and the Sierra Nevada ("snowy mountain
Mountains in the east stretch from Newfoundland
range") runs up and down the eastern side of
in Canada, down through New England in the
California. South of the Rockies, the Sierra Madre
U.S., ending in Alabama. In the west, the Rocky
("mother range") runs nearly the entire length of
Mountains stretch from Alaska, through Canada,
Mexico. The highest peak in North America, Mount
down the western side of the U.S. The Appalachian
McKinley (20,320 feet), is located in the Alaska
Mountains are much older than the Rockies, and are
Range in southern Alaska.
therefore much lower and rounded due to time and
Vast, sprawling plains cover the interiors of
erosion. Most of the peaks of the Appalachians are
the U.S. and Canada, between the Rockies and the
no higher than 6,000 feet, while the highest point in
Appalachians. In the U.S. the Great Plains slope
the Rockies reaches 14,433 feet.
down from the Rockies to meet the Central Plains
The Rocky Mountains are an important habitat for a great deal of well-known wildlife, such as moose, grizzly bears, wolverines, and bighorn sheep.
16
North America
SS
U
R
IA
Be
rin
gS
tra
it
Yuk
on
er
Riv
Alaska R
a
n ge
Arctic Ocean
h
ie
oun
yM
R o ck
P
la
in
s
s
Great
r
ive
an
C a n a d i
Central
i
Mi s s
S
ppi
ssi
Mo
u
S t.
La
w
re
iver
eR
nc
UNITED
STATES OF
AMERICA
n s
Pla i
Atlantic Ocean
GREENLAND
or
ri
te
In
tai n
n
Ontario
Hudson Bay
n
hia
Erie
Huro
ld
Supe
rior
River
hio
c
Appa la
Sierr a Nevada
Cascades
de
ran
oG
Plains
Rive
r
Yucatan
Peninsula
Gulf of Mexico
an
Miss
our
iR
Ri
dre
Michig
CANADA
r
rado Rive
Colo
i
Ma
ai n
s
nt
Mt. McKinley
Pacific Ocean
Great Basin Desert
Mojave Desert
Sonoran Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
Baja-California
Peninsula
Gulf of California
er
ra
S
MEXICO
O
17
North America
west of the Appalachians. In Canada, the Interior Plains to the
east of the Rockies give way to the Canadian Shield in eastern
Canada, a large area of ancient bedrock dotted with thousands
of small lakes that forms a horseshoe around the Hudson Bay.
From "sea to shining sea" North America is home to some of
the world's most impressive bodies of water. It is bracketed by
the Pacific Ocean on the western coasts, and the Atlantic Ocean
on the eastern coasts. The Gulf of Mexico is a large sea basin
that borders five southern states in the U.S. and the eastern
coast of Mexico. The Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada is
the world's second largest bay. It was used by the Hudson Bay
Company during the colonization of the Americas, and played
a vital role in the development of Canada. The five Great Lakes
(Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior), which lie on the
border between the United States and Canada in the east, are
the world's largest group of freshwater lakes. Lake Superior
is the largest freshwater lake in the world, and the other four
are in the top twelve. They are major tourism attractions,
and important for trade and economic development in the
area. They are a part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which
enables goods to travel along the St. Lawrence River to the
Atlantic Ocean. The famous Niagara Falls on the border of the
Canadian Province of Ontario and New York State in the U.S.
The Colorado River winding through the Grand Canyon
has the greatest volume of any waterfall on earth.
in Arizona.
The Bering Strait is a strip of water between the easternmost
part of Siberia and the western coast of Alaska that separates Asia from North America. Geographers believe
it used to be a land bridge that allowed early Asian peoples to migrate east and south into North America.
During the Cold War it became known as the "Ice Curtain," a closed border between the United States and
Russia. Today it is a rich fishing ground, and serves as a shelter for many endangered whales, walruses, sea
lions, seals, and seabirds.
The Rocky mountains are the site of North America's Continental Divide, the dividing boundary between rivers
that flow west to empty into the Pacific and the Gulf of California, from those that flow east to empty into the Atlantic,
the Hudson Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi-Missouri River System in the midwest and Central Plains
of the U.S. is the fourth largest in the world. The Ohio River, which begins in Pennsylvania and flows southwest,
and the Missouri River, which flows southeast from the northern Rocky mountains, are the largest tributaries
of the Mississippi. The Mississippi River is the largest river in North America, flowing south from Minnesota
to empty into the Gulf of Mexico. These rivers fostered America's great westward exploration and expansion,
and feature in many stories, from
Lewis and Clark to Huckleberry
Finn. The Colorado River begins
in the Rocky Mountains and
flows southwest, through the
Grand Canyon and into the Gulf
of California. The Rio Grande
("great river"), another of North
America's longest rivers, begins
in Colorado and forms a natural
border between the United States
and Mexico before it ends in the
Gulf of Mexico. The Yukon River
Frederick Edwin Church, Niagara Falls, 1857
18
North America
The Sonoran Desert, Maricopa, Arizona.
The Saguaro cactus is
native to the Sonoran
Desert, and has been
known to live for more
than 150 years.
begins in Canada's Yukon Territory, flows northwest
human geography
through Alaska, and ends in the Bering Sea. During the
1800s people flocked to its shores in the hunt for gold,
North America was known as the "New World" to
and every year people navigate this river in the longest the European explorers and settlers who began arriving
annual canoe and kayak race in the world.
there as early as the 15th century. They brought with
Deserts cover most of the American southwest and them Western beliefs and practices, creating countries
parts of northern Mexico. The Great Basin Desert is that share similar cultures, especially the United States
a cold desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada and Canada which share the English language and
mountains. It drains all of its precipitation internally, the world's longest international border. Canada was
either through evaporation or into extremely salty mainly colonized by the French, the U.S. by the British,
lakes, such as Utah's Great Salt Lake. South of the and Mexico by the Spanish.
Great Basin, two deserts straddle the Colorado
Christianity is by far the most prevalent religion,
River. The Mojave Desert ("high desert") borders the with around 70-85% claimants, though most
southern edge of the Great Basin, and is home to Death countries in North America have no official state
Valley, the lowest (282 feet below sea level), driest, religion. The population densities are greatest
and hottest place in North America. The
along the coasts of the United States,
Mojave is the only habitat of the Joshua
especially the northeastern coast, as
Tree, the presence of which often serves
well as in central Mexico.
to define the borders of the desert. The
North American countries, especially
Sonoran Desert ("low desert") borders
the United States have strong traditions of
the Mojave on its southeastern border,
democratic governments and free market
and extends into Arizona, the Baja
economies. This has resulted in some
Peninsula, and northern Mexico. The
of the highest prosperity levels in the
signature saguaro (sah-WAR-oh) cactus
world. In 1994 the North American Free
is native to the Sonoran Desert. The
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted
Chihuahuan Desert is southeast of the
to foster free trade across Canada, the
Sonoran, and straddles the United StatesUnited States, and Mexico, forming one
Mexico border, extending into central
of the world's largest trading blocs.
The
Joshua
Tree
was
named
by
Mexico. Its ecosystems have not been
Prior to European exploration and
Mormon settlers in the 19th
studied in depth, but it is thought to be century who were reminded of colonization,
North America
was
one of the most diverse desert regions in the Biblical story in which
inhabited by many indigenous (native
Joshua reaches his hands up to
the world.
to
a particular region) peoples. The Inuit
the sky in prayer.
North America
19
Pyramid in Chacchoben, a Maya site in Quintana Roo
Maya architecture spans many thousands of years. The Mayas built cities throughout Mesoamerica without the
use of any advanced technology or machinery.
(Eskimo) people of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland largely continue to practice their old
customs and ways of living (such as the use of snow sleds for transportation and animal
hides for clothing), though they also incorporate modern technology such as airplanes
and snowmobiles. Most are nomads, following the animals upon which they depend.
Most Native Americans of the United States today live on reservations that are
designated and partly controlled by the government. Although living standards are
generally quite poor on these reservations, many Native Americans consider them
necessary for the preservation of their culture and heritage. The largest tribes today
are the Navajo Nation and the Cherokee .
One of the oldest civilizations in North America was the Maya, which is believed
to be as old as 1000 or more years B.C. Their golden era was 300-900 A.D., when they
were known for their fine clothing, pottery, and especially their architecture. They
had the only known fully developed written language in the Americas before the
arrival of Columbus. Their calendar was one of the most accurate in the world before
the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, which we use today. They lived in Mexico's
Yucatán Peninsula, which juts out into the Gulf of Mexico, as well as Belize and
Guatemala. Following the demise of the Maya
civilization, the Aztecs of Mexico developed
into a strong empire throughout 1300-1500,
centered around their capital Tenochtitlán,
which is buried under Mexico City today.
Some of the massive pyramids upon which
the Aztecs worshiped and practiced human
sacrifice still stand, and are popular tourist
destinations. In the early 1500s the Spaniard
Hernán Cortés defeated the Aztec king
Montezuma III, beginning the reign of the
Spanish in Mexico. The Amerindian peoples
(natives of Central and South America) still
trace their ancestry back to the Mayas, Aztecs,
and other indigenous groups.
The Aztec Sun Stone or Calendar Stone
Found in Mexico City (ancient Tenochtitlan) in 1790.
The exact purpose of the stone still remains unclear.
20
North America
Totem poles are monumental
sculptures carved from
trees (mostly cedar) by the
indigenous peoples of the
Pacific Northwest, including
(but not limited to) the Haida,
Tsimshian, and Tlingit.
Symbolism varies based on
the culture. Some may recount
legends, clan lineages, or
significant events. Some may
celebrate cultural beliefs or
merely be artistic presentations.
North America
Country:Capital:
Canada
United States
Mexico
Ottawa
Washington, D.C.
Mexico City
Canada
Canada is the largest country in North America
and second largest in the world (by size), but its
population is only a ninth of the United States’.
The large majority of the population of Canada
lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border, where
the climate is less harsh than in the more northern
regions. There are ten provinces and three
territories (Northwest, Yukon, and Nunavut)
governed by different authorities and law codes.
Canadian English and Canadian French are
the two official languages of the country, but in
the northern provinces especially, aboriginal
languages are prevalent. There is no official state
religion, though Catholicism is predominant.
Canada is a parliamentary democracy, and though
it received independence from Great Britain in
1867, it still recognizes the British monarch as the
symbolic head of state.
There is a history of strong French heritage in
the province of Quebec, which has led to difficulty
in establishing a unified national identity. In 1995,
the French Separatists in Quebec lost a vote to
secede from Canada
by less than one
percentage
point.
French culture and
festivals are still
celebrated
there
today.
Canada's
vast
distances
contain
rich natural resources
such as fish, forests,
The maple leaf is the most
minerals,
natural
recognizable national symbol of
gas, and oil. Its oil
Canada. It is on the national flag and
used by many sports teams.
reserves are among
the top three largest in the world, including those
fairly recently discovered in Alberta.
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams composing the
Declaration of Independence, a document adopted by the Continental
Congress declaring the thirteen colonies independent states. The U.S.
won their independence from Great Britain in 1783. The U.S. continues
to be the most economically and politically influential democratic
republic in the world. It is also the world’s oldest surviving federation.
united States
The United States of America is the world’s
third largest country, both by area and population.
Beginning as colonies of Great Britain and
other European countries, the U.S. declared
independence in 1776, expanded across the entire
continent, and has since developed the largest,
most technologically advanced economy in the
world. It is a constitution-based republic, devoted
to free self-government and justice and equality for
all its citizens. As a “melting pot,” the United States
has welcomed thousands of immigrants from all
over the world. English is the official language, but
many immigrant ethnic groups continue to practice
their own cultures and languages.
The coastal regions of the U.S. frequently
experience hurricanes and other tropical storms,
which sometimes cause significant damage. Part of
the midwest between the Rocky and Appalachian
Mountains is known as "tornado alley", and
experiences frequent and devastating tornadoes
caused by surrounding weather systems.
North America
21
Mexico
Following the reign of the advanced
Maya and Aztec civilizations, Mexico
came under Spanish rule for three
centuries before gaining independence in
1821. During the era of Spanish control,
four social classes were formed. At the
top were the peninsulares, born in Spain;
next the criollos, Spaniards born in the
New World; mestizos were of mixed
descent, and finally the Amerindians were
the lowest class, often enslaved. As postSpanish Mexico has developed, many
questions of equal opportunity for the
lower classes have had to be addressed.
Since NAFTA came into effect in 1994,
Mexico’s trade with the U.S. and Canada
has nearly tripled. Politically and
economically it is stronger than its Central
American neighbors, but it still struggles Emanuel Leutze, Storming of the Teocalli by Cortez and His Troops, 1848
with low wages, underemployment, and The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was one of the most significant campaigns
in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Led by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish army
inequitable income distribution. The captured the Aztec leader, Montezuma III and took control of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)
largest city, Mexico City, is a “global” by 1521.
city with a population of 8.8 million
(excluding the surrounding municipalities). It battles a host of problems, including limited water sources,
sewage removal, devastating earthquakes, and severe air pollution.
Mexico’s topography is dominated by two mountain ranges on the east and west flanking an unstable
central plateau, situated at the intersection of four tectonic plates. In the arid north, the central plateau receives
little rain, while farther south, tropical ocean winds are able to drop enough precipitation to support greater
population densities. The flat Yucatán Peninsula deposits most of its precipitation in limestone beds, creating
numerous underground caverns.
Constantino Brumidi: Cortez and Moctezuma at the Mexican Temple, 1878-1880, U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Although Hernán Cortés and his Spanish army were peacefully received in Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City) in 1519, the Aztecs and
Spaniards were secretly playing the same game. Both tried to learn the other’s weaknesses in hopes of conquering the other. Pleasantry soon turned
to war. After a short but bloody campaign, Cortés claimed the territory for Charles V of Spain.
22
North America