Physical Geography Physical Geography of the United of the United

States and CanadaStates and CanadaChapter 5Chapter 5

A Land of ContrastsA Land of Contrasts

Land AreaLand Area

Together the U.S. and Canada cover Together the U.S. and Canada cover more than 7 million square miles.more than 7 million square miles.

In total area, Canada ranks 2In total area, Canada ranks 2ndnd and and the U.S. 3the U.S. 3rdrd (Russia is 1 (Russia is 1stst))

Together they fill 1/8 of the land Together they fill 1/8 of the land surface of the earth surface of the earth

An Inuit homeland, Nunavut, created An Inuit homeland, Nunavut, created in 1999 covers nearly ¼ of Canada’s in 1999 covers nearly ¼ of Canada’s land area.land area.

Landform PatternLandform Pattern High Western Mountains:High Western Mountains:

Pacific Ranges (Alaska Range, Coast Pacific Ranges (Alaska Range, Coast Range, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada)Range, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada)

Rocky Mountains – continental divideRocky Mountains – continental divide Highest point – Mt. McKinley (20,320 Highest point – Mt. McKinley (20,320

feet) in the Alaska Rangefeet) in the Alaska Range

Continental DivideContinental Divide Highest ridge of the Rocky Highest ridge of the Rocky

Mountains is the continental divide Mountains is the continental divide in North America.in North America.

Separates the waters flowingSeparates the waters flowing

west to the Pacific and to thewest to the Pacific and to the

east toward the Mississippieast toward the Mississippi

River and Atlantic Ocean.River and Atlantic Ocean.

Landform PatternLandform Pattern Central Plains – broad, flat upland Central Plains – broad, flat upland

extending for about 400 miles from extending for about 400 miles from the Rockies through the central U.S. the Rockies through the central U.S. and Canadaand Canada

Area is flat with no significant Area is flat with no significant change in landformschange in landforms

Great PlainsGreat Plains Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield

Landform PatternLandform Pattern

Low Eastern MountainsLow Eastern Mountains Appalachian Mountains – 2Appalachian Mountains – 2ndnd longest longest

mountain range in North Americamountain range in North America 1,500 miles extending from Quebec to 1,500 miles extending from Quebec to

AlabamaAlabama North America’s oldest mountains – North America’s oldest mountains –

worn down due to erosionworn down due to erosion

The IslandsThe Islands

Canada – 3 huge islands in the Arctic Canada – 3 huge islands in the Arctic Ocean – Ellesmere, Victoria, and BaffinOcean – Ellesmere, Victoria, and Baffin

United States – 2 island chains created United States – 2 island chains created by volcanic activityby volcanic activity Aleutian Islands – off the coast of AlaskaAleutian Islands – off the coast of Alaska Hawaiian Islands (politically part of the Hawaiian Islands (politically part of the

U.S., but not geographically part of North U.S., but not geographically part of North America) – about 2,400 miles to the SW of America) – about 2,400 miles to the SW of the U.S.the U.S.

Bodies of WaterBodies of Water

Mississippi River – largest river in N.A. Mississippi River – largest river in N.A. in terms of volume and drainage areain terms of volume and drainage area

Mackenzie River – Canada’s longest Mackenzie River – Canada’s longest riverriver

Many lakes were formed by glaciers Many lakes were formed by glaciers during the Ice Age.during the Ice Age.

Great LakesGreat Lakes HOMESHOMES Huron, Ontario, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, SuperiorMichigan, Erie, Superior

Land & ForestsLand & Forests

One of the richest natural resources One of the richest natural resources is the land itself.is the land itself.

Fertile soils make North America the Fertile soils make North America the world’s leading food exporter.world’s leading food exporter.

About 1/2 of Canada is covered by About 1/2 of Canada is covered by woodlands, 1/3 of the United States.woodlands, 1/3 of the United States.

Both countries are major producers Both countries are major producers of lumber and forest products.of lumber and forest products.

Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

GoldGold SilverSilver NickelNickel IronIron CopperCopper UraniumUranium ZincZinc

GOLD SILVER

COPPER

ClimateClimate Canada - varies from temperate in Canada - varies from temperate in

south to subarctic and arctic in south to subarctic and arctic in northnorth

United States - mostly temperate, United States - mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwestthe southwest

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Oahu

ClimateClimate

Pacific Ranges create a rain shadow Pacific Ranges create a rain shadow and on the leeward side are the Great and on the leeward side are the Great Salt Lake Desert, Blackrock Desert, Salt Lake Desert, Blackrock Desert, Mojave Desert, Death Valley.Mojave Desert, Death Valley.

Great Plains experience extreme Great Plains experience extreme weather conditions due to their weather conditions due to their distance from large bodies of water.distance from large bodies of water.

Most of Canada’s forests are in the Most of Canada’s forests are in the subarctic region.subarctic region.

We live in a humid subtropical climate.We live in a humid subtropical climate.

Effects of Extreme Effects of Extreme WeatherWeather

Tornado Alley – Great PlainsTornado Alley – Great Plains Hurricanes – Atlantic and Gulf CoastHurricanes – Atlantic and Gulf Coast Winter snowstormsWinter snowstorms FloodingFlooding

Human/Environment Human/Environment InteractionInteraction

Settlement & agriculture alter the landSettlement & agriculture alter the land 11stst inhabitants – nomads who migrated inhabitants – nomads who migrated

from Asia over Beringia, a land bridge from Asia over Beringia, a land bridge that once connected Siberia & Alaska that once connected Siberia & Alaska (hunters & gatherers)(hunters & gatherers)

Early settlements became permanent Early settlements became permanent after agriculture replaced hunting & after agriculture replaced hunting & gatheringgathering

When people began to cultivate crops, When people began to cultivate crops, they changed the landscape to meet their they changed the landscape to meet their needsneeds

Building CitiesBuilding Cities

Where do cities develop? Where do cities develop? Depends a great deal on the physical Depends a great deal on the physical

settingsetting WaterWater LandscapeLandscape ClimateClimate WeatherWeather Availability of natural resourcesAvailability of natural resources

Montreal – Adapting to the Montreal – Adapting to the WeatherWeather

Canada’s 2Canada’s 2ndnd largest city & major port largest city & major port Temperature is below freezing more than 100 Temperature is below freezing more than 100

days a yeardays a year Located on a large island where the St. Located on a large island where the St.

Lawrence & Ottawa rivers meetLawrence & Ottawa rivers meet French built a permanent settlement there in French built a permanent settlement there in

16421642 Community was founded at the base of Mount Community was founded at the base of Mount

RoyalRoyal Large areas of Montreal have been developed Large areas of Montreal have been developed

underground, including a network of shops & underground, including a network of shops & restaurantsrestaurants

MontrealMontreal

Underground city shopsUnderground city shops

Los Angeles – Creating Los Angeles – Creating Urban SprawlUrban Sprawl

Mild climate year-roundMild climate year-round Along the Pacific coastAlong the Pacific coast City expanded into nearby valleys & City expanded into nearby valleys &

desert-like foothillsdesert-like foothills During the 1980’s, L.A. became the 2During the 1980’s, L.A. became the 2ndnd

largest city in the U.S.largest city in the U.S. Rapid expansion brought with it problemsRapid expansion brought with it problems Air pollution, inadequate water supplies, Air pollution, inadequate water supplies,

& construction on earthquake-threatened & construction on earthquake-threatened landland

Los AngelesLos Angeles

TransportationTransportation

St. Lawrence Seaway – North St. Lawrence Seaway – North America’s most important deepwater America’s most important deepwater ship routeship route

Completed in 1950s as a joint Completed in 1950s as a joint project of the U.S. & Canadaproject of the U.S. & Canada

Connects the Great Lakes to the Connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the St. Atlantic Ocean by way of the St. Lawrence RiverLawrence River

St. Lawrence SeawaySt. Lawrence Seaway

TransportationTransportation

11stst Transcontinental railroad was Transcontinental railroad was completed across the U.S. in 1869completed across the U.S. in 1869

A trans-Canada railroad, from A trans-Canada railroad, from Montreal to British Columbia, was Montreal to British Columbia, was completed in 1885completed in 1885

Today, the U.S. has the world’s Today, the U.S. has the world’s largest railway systemlargest railway system

Canada has the 3Canada has the 3rdrd largest largest

National Highway SystemNational Highway System

Seattle, WASeattle, WA

TransportationTransportation

U.S. has about 4 million miles of road; U.S. has about 4 million miles of road; Canada has about 560,000 milesCanada has about 560,000 miles

National Highway System – network National Highway System – network of more than 46,000 miles of of more than 46,000 miles of highways that crisscross the U.S.highways that crisscross the U.S.

Started in the 1950s, it connects the Started in the 1950s, it connects the U.S. with Canada on the north and U.S. with Canada on the north and Mexico on the south, & also runs east-Mexico on the south, & also runs east-west across the country.west across the country.