Chapter 5 - Physical Geography of the United States & Canada
5:1 LANDFORMS AND RESOURCES
Historical Overview
 Spanish, French, and English settlers founded colonies in North America
 French Quebec came under British rule, and the British colonies gained independence as
Canada and the United States of America
 Both Canada and the U.S. expanded west through annexation, wars, and treaties in the 1800’s
 Regional differences led to civil war in the U.S.
 The new technology of the Industrial Revolution fueled economic growth
 The U.S. and Canada assumed roles of world leadership in the 1900’s, and common interests
forged close ties between the two countries
Landscape Influenced Development
 Vast Lands
o Both countries are huge: 7 million sq. miles
o From the Arctic Ocean to the Rio Grande
o Canada ranks 2nd, behind Russia, and the United States 3rd in total land area
o Together they fill 1/8 of the land surface of the earth
 Abundant Resources
o Landmass and natural resources attract immigrants to both countries
o Allowed both countries to develop into global powers
o Both countries are rich in natural resources:
 Fertile soils
- Vast forests
 Ample water supplies
- Variety of minerals
Many and Varied Landforms
 All major landforms are found in the U.S. and Canada
 The two countries share mountain chains and interior plains
 Eastern Lowlands – flat, coastal plain runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
o Atlantic Coastal Plain – extends from Delaware down to Florida; has excellent harbors
o Gulf Coastal Plain – goes from Florida, along Gulf of Mexico, to Texas
o Piedmont – low plateau between coastal plains and Appalachian highlands
 Appalachian Highlands – west of the coastal plain
o Appalachian Mtns – run 1,600 miles from Newfoundland in Canada to Alabama
 eroded by the elements
 over 400 million years old
o include Green and Catskill Mtns. – in the north
o Blue Ridge & Great Smoky Mtns – in the south
 Interior Lowlands – mainly level land covers the interior of North America
o Flattened by glaciers thousands of years ago, left fertile soil
o Includes lowlands, rolling hills, lakes and rivers, and fertile soils
o Interior Plains – spread from the Appalachians to Missouri R.
o Great Plains – a largely treeless area extend from Missouri R. to Rocky Mtns.
o Canadian Shield – rocky, mainly flat area covers nearly 2 million sq. miles around the
Hudson Bay
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Western Mountains, Plateaus, and Basins
o Rocky Mtns. – run 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico
Relatively young: 80 million years old
Less erosion means rugged, 12,000 ft. snow-covered peaks
Continental Divide – line of highest points along the Rockies
 Separates rivers flowing east from those that flow west
Other Pacific mountain ranges : Sierra Nevada, Cascade
Continent’s highest peak : Mt. McKinley in Alaska
Major earthquake activity in the Pacific ranges
Between ranges and Rockies: cliffs, canyons, basins (low desert)
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Islands
o Major islands:
 Canada: Ellesmere, Victoria, Baffin
 U.S.: Aleutians (Alaska), Hawaii
Oceans & Waterways
 Great Lakes – (HOMES) Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior
o all connected via the St. Lawrence River
o 1/5 of world’s freshwater
o Source of transportation, hydroelectric power, irrigation, fresh water, & fisheries
 Mississippi R. – starts in Minnesota and flows to the Gulf of Mexico
o continents longest and busiest; major shipping resource
o Connects to 2 tributaries which are major rivers --- Ohio & Missouri rivers
 Mackenzie R. – longest river in Canada, crosses Northwest Territories to Arctic Ocean
Resources
 Land and Forests
o Fertile soil helps make North America world’s leading food exporter
o Large forests yield lumber and other products
 Minerals and Fossil Fuels
o Mineral quantity and variety make rapid industrialization possible
o Minerals: gold, silver, nickel, iron ore, copper, uranium, and zinc
 Heavy deposits in the Rockies and Canadian Shield
o Oil, natural gas, and coal found in both countries
 U.S. is the biggest energy consumer; gets most of Canada’s energy exports
5:2 CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
Shared Climates and Vegetation
 U.S. has more climate zones than Canada – extend over a large area north to south
 U.S. is located in moderate mid-latitudes; Canada in colder high latitudes
 Colder Climates:
o Tundra
 Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada
 Winters are long and bitterly cold; summers are brief and chilly
 huge treeless plain
o Subarctic
 the rest of Canada and Alaska
 cold winters; short, mild summers; some permafrost
 vast forest of needle-leafed evergreens
o Highland Climate
 Rocky Mtns., Pacific Ranges; sparse vegetation
 affect weather in lower areas; block Arctic air, trap Pacific moisture
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Moderate Climates:
o Humid Continental
 North central, northeast U.S., and southern Canada
 Cold winters and warm summers; heavy agriculture
o Marine West Coast
 Pacific Coast from California to southern Alaska
 Warm summers; long, mild, rainy winters; Mixed vegetation
 Climate affected by ocean currents, coastal mountains, westerlies
Differences in Climate and Vegetation
 Milder, dry, and tropical climates are found south of 40°N latitude
 Much of the U.S. is found in these climate zones; little of Canada is
 Milder Climates:
o Humid Subtropical
 Southeastern states
 Hot summers; mild winters; long growing season variety of crops
o Mediterranean
 Central and southern coasts of California
 Dry, warm summers; mild, rainy winters
 Fruits and vegetables grow well in this climate
 Dry Climates:
o Semiarid
 Great Plains and northern Great Basin
 Dry with short grasses and shrubs
o Desert
 Southwestern states
 Hot and dry; less than 10 inches of rain
 Includes the Mojave and Sonoran deserts
 Tropical Climates:
o Tropical Wet
 Hawaii
 Temps around 70°F; rain forests
o Tropical Wet & Dry
 South Florida
 mostly warm with wet and dry seasons; tall grasses and scattered trees
 Everglades - swampland covering 4,000 sq. miles
Effects of Extreme Weather
 Natural Hazards
o Warm Gulf air clashes with cold Canadian air over the Great Plains
 Creates thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards
o Hurricanes sweep the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in summer and fall
o Heavy rains cause floods along big rivers like the Mississippi
o Heat, lack of rain bring droughts, dust storms, forest fires
5:3 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
Settlement and Agriculture Alter the Land
 European settlements in the U.S. and Canada expanded from east to west
 Settlement
o Human settlers adapted to, and changed the environment
o 1st inhabitants were nomads, who moved from place to place
 Migrated from Asia over Beringia, a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska
 Hunted, fished, and gathered plants; settled near rivers and streams
 Agriculture
o Agriculture replaced hunting and gathering 3,000 years ago
o Settlements became permanent
 Cut down trees for houses, plow fields, dig irrigation ditches
 Plant corn, beans, and squash
o Today U.S. and Canada are leading agriculture exporters
 Building Cities
o Water access a major factor in how towns begin, develop
o Other factors: landscape, climate, weather, natural resources
o Many large cities today are close to water because that is where settlers chose to build
 Transportation/Overcoming Distances
o 1st natives go east, south down the Pacific coast, some stay north
o 1700: Europeans colonize the east coast then inland, creating trails (Oregon & Santa Fe)
o 1825: Erie Canal – 1st navigable water link between the Atlantic and Great Lakes
o 1869: 1st U.S. Transcontinental Railroad - from the Atlantic to the Pacific
 Builders faced many natural barriers: workers cut down forests, bridge streams,
tunnel through mountains
 Move goods, people; promote economic development, national unity
 Today the U.S. has the world’s largest rail system; Canada, 3rd largest
o 1885: 1st TransCanada Railroad – from Montreal to British Columbia
o 1959: St. Lawrence Seaway – deep-water shipping route built by the U.S. and Canada
 Connects the great lakes to the Atlantic by way of the St. Lawrence River
 Gated off sections called locks raise and lower the water and ships
 Large ocean vessels can get to industrial and agricultural heartland
 National Highway Systems
o Arrival of the automobile spurs road-building in the early 20th century
o U.S. has about 4 million miles of roads
o Canada has about 560,000 miles of roads