Transcript North America – 5 Chapters 4 World Geography
World Geography
North America Chapters 4 – 5
World Geography
North America Section I – Physical Systems
Agenda
Physical System
Area overview
maps of the region
satellite map
Geosphere
– landforms and their influences boundaries natural disasters (plate tectonics)
Hydrosphere
bodies of water
importance
Atmosphere
weather and climate
natural disasters Environment and society
natural resources
North America
Overview
North America
Names
Canada and The United States of America
“New World” Sometimes: “The Western World”
Size
3 rd largest continent
Every climate
Seven (7) time zones
Changes: some still include Mexico
Languages
English, French and Spanish
Religion
Christianity, Islam and all the others
North America
Realm
Canada United States
The Evolution of the Realm
Continent
Canada United States Mexico
North America
The Landforms of the Realm
Most landforms run the length North to South
Vast plains
High Mts.
Plateaus Canyons
Deserts Volcanic activity
Some of the worlds most spectacular scenery
North America
Western mountains
youngest
steeper volcanic The Mountains
Influences weather patterns
Eastern
older, more eroded
gentle slopes
Interior highlands
divides interior plains and coastal plains
North America
The Coastal Plains
Gulf Coastal plains
rivers – IT no P
environmental (climate/ land)
agriculture ports Natural disasters
hurricanes
Atlantic Coastal Plain
upper
rivers – P not much IT
environmental (climate/ land)
raw materials (minerals)
manufacturing
urbanized (megalopolis)
ports
lower
rivers – IT no P environmental (climate/ land)
agriculture
limited ports
North America
The Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
minerals for early industry
forestry prevented early exploration divided the early empires (France and Great Britain)
North America
The Plains
The Interior Plains
rolling hills
rivers and lakes
fertile/productive soil Great Plains
high plains
sub-region
farming and ranching severe weather (tornado alley)
North America
The Mountains
Rock Mountains
rugged industrial – minerals and mining, ranching
tourism – skiing
very little population
virtually a physical barrier that divides the United States into two countries – slowed westward expansion
climate – canalizes the jet stream
North America
The Pacific
West Coast
fertile valleys (Willamette Valley)
fruits and vegetables
volcanic and earthquakes
North America
Intermountain, Basins and Plateaus
Lowlands
basically a rain shadow from the Pacific Ranges
high plateaus
deep canyons isolated mountain ranges desert basins
North America
Alaska and Hawaii
Alaska
mountainous
edge of the arctic circle Sothern portion is the most habitual and productive
Hawaii
hot spots: volcanic activity on the ocean floor
coral reefs: small solid formations of small animal skeletons
North America
Western
Drain into Pacific O.
P - hydroelectric power Carves the intermountain basin and plateaus Bodies of Water
More large lakes than any other country in the world and the largest
The continental divide creates two (2) main river networks (Pacific or Atlantic)
Eastern
Drains into Atlantics O.
P high – IT low
Interior
Drains into Atlantics Ocean via the Gulf of Mexico
IT
Drains the plains
North America
Climates of North America
US has all climates except arctic, the realm has all climates.
Four factor influence United States’ climate
location – middle latitudes prevailing winds ocean currents landforms Rocky and Appalachian Mountains
size (width)
North America
Climates of North America
Aids the US’s agricultural success Arid is a rain shadow Missouri is human continental, with four (4) distinct season
North America
Climates of North America
North America
Natural Disaster
The geosphere’s influence on the atmosphere
Eastern
Atmo:
T-Storms, Hurricanes, blizzards, droughts, tornadoes
Geo: limited Hydro: minor flooding
Western
Atmo:
T-Storms, blizzards, droughts,
smog Geo:
volcanic
earthquakes
tsunami Hydro: mud slides Interior
Atmo:
T-Storms, blizzards,
droughts, tornadoes Geo: limited Hydro: flooding and flash
North America
Natural Disaster
North America
Natural Disaster
North America
Natural Disaster
North American Plate – Pacific Plate
Transform zone
San Andreas Fault Earthquake zone North America Plate – Juan de Fuca
Sub-duction zone Formed the Cascades Mountains Volcanic and earthquake activity
North America
Boundaries
Geometric
U.S. – Canada
Cultural
U.S. – Mexico
North America
Oil Oil Gold Forestry Gold Natural Resources Minerals Agriculture
Abundant amount of natural resources which led to the United States being an industrial giant, thus led to the United States being a world power
US world’s leading agriculture producer
Forestry
Coal and iron = IR Oil supply vs demand (IMPORT)
Has these resources influenced the growth of United States?
Oil
North America
Oil Gold Forestry Natural Resources Minerals
How has these resources influenced the population distribution of United States?
IR = wealth in the northeast
Farming = down south and in the interior plains
Gold rush in the west Oil Gold Agriculture Oil
North America
Human Systems
Brief History
Native Americans
Explorers
Government Regions Modern America
Future Urbanization
Canada
Physical Human
Agenda
North America
Settlers to America
Native Americans
North America
Settlers to America
Spanish French
North America
Settlers to America
What led to the Americas Discovery?
Passage to China French Spanish
North America
Spanish Silver and gold
Settlers to America
What led to the Americas Discovery?
Passage to China French Spanish
British Colonization Harvest raw materials French
Hunting and fur trading
North America
Evolution of the United States
West coast Louisiana Purchase Northwest Territory
North America
Evolution of the United States
West Coast Louisiana Purchase Northwest Territory Colonies/states
American Revolution Gains our independence from GB Birth of a new Nation
Colonies - States West Coast
Mexican-American War Louisiana Purchase
Bought from the French
Northwest Territory Needed more land
North America
The Government of The United States
Executive President Vice-president Cabinet Enforces laws US Constitution
Legislature Congress House of Representative Senate Makes laws Federal Republic
governments
Federal and State Who has more power?
(Civil War – seceding )
Judicial Supreme court Reviews laws
North America
The Regions of the United States
Interior West
South Civil War devastated Agriculture
Slow to develop New industries – technology and biotech Tourism – history and recreation Midwest South N. East
Northeast Earliest settlers
imports and exports)
Ports (easy access – Financial district
Industrial region
raw materials
ports rivers
labor else where)
decline (cheaper “rustbelt”
Government Population (megalopolis) Tourism
North America
The Regions of the United States
Interior West Midwest South N. East Midwest
network
Excellent water River cities
Agricultural area
one of the most fertile areas in the world
“dairy belt”
“corn belt” Population growth
Interior West Lease populated Rockies a barrier to pass Transcontinental railroad Tourism (skiing) Wheat belt Hydroelectric
North America
The Regions of the United States
Interior West Midwest South N. East
Pacific Population growth Economy changing economy tourism
Hollywood military bases
technology (silicon valley) Tourism
North America
Economy
Free enterprise: right to make money – economic freedom Tertiary (services)
Largest consumer of goods
Modern America
Future Landfills recycling
Green: alternative fuels Trade
exporter
Leading importer and North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
North America
Rural to Urban to Suburbs
Suburbs Urbanization
Rural: farming Movement to cities (urban)
steady work and wages
Central Business District Low income Suburbs CBD Low Income
North America
Citizens of America
Pluralistic Society
immigrants
99% immigrants or decedents of Migration (legal and illegal)
Pull factors
religious freedom
freedom
education
employment recreational
North America
Alaskan Time Zone
Time Zones
Pacific Time Zone Mountain Time Zone Eastern Standard Central Time Zone Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone
North America
The Regions of the Realm
Atlantic Region Hinterland: fishing Poorest scarcely populated
Quebec and Ontario Manufacturing Government Shipping
British Columbia Forestry
Prairie Agriculture
North America
British Columbia
Wanted some claim to North America: west coast
History of Canada
Discovery
Erickson
Vikings: Leif European: searching for Northwest passage French found the St. Lawrence Culture
closer to US
Similar to US, some say Sectionalism: worried about their province Bilingual: French
Control the eastern portion
North America
The Regions of the Realm
West Canadian North B.C
Prairie Quebec & Ontario West Midwest N.E.
Atlantic South
North America
North America –
(Landforms)