Chapter 5 A Land of Contrasts North America. North America (Total Area) Canada and the United...

Chapter 5A Land of Contrasts

North America

North America(Total Area) Canada and the United States rank as two

of the largest countries in the world area wise. 1. Russia2. Canada3. United States4. China5. Brazil

Natural Resources Both Canada and the United States are

global economic powers because they have a ton of natural resources.Examples include: coal, copper, iron ore,

petroleum, timber, natural gas, lead etc.

Oceans and Waterways Eight of the world’s largest lakes are on the

North American Continent. *The Great Lakes are 5 of them.

Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior.

The Mississippi River goes most of the length of the United States from North to South.

Canada’s longest river is the Mackenzie River, which empties out into the Arctic Ocean.

Land and Forests North America is the world’s number one

food exporter. This is because the United States and Canada have some of the most fertile soils in the world.

½ of Canada is covered by woodlands 1/3 of the U.S. is covered by forests

Although Canada has more timber, the U.S. has a higher variety of trees.

Energy Resources The U.S. consumes more energy resources

than any other country in the world. Canada supplies the U.S. with a lot of energy resources.

AppalachianAppalachian Great Great PlainsPlains

CanadianCanadian

ShieldShield

Rock Rock MountainsMountains

East mountain East mountain chainchain

Treeless Treeless areaarea

Rocky, flat Rocky, flat areaarea

West West mountain mountain chainchain

1,600 miles 1,600 miles from Nf to ALfrom Nf to AL

4,000 ft. 4,000 ft. above sea above sea levellevel

Lies far north Lies far north in Canadain Canada

Extend 3,000 Extend 3,000 miles from miles from Alaska to NMAlaska to NM

Green, Catskill, Green, Catskill, Blue Ridge and Blue Ridge and Smoky Mts.Smoky Mts.

Run from Run from Texas up Texas up through through CanadaCanada

Covers 18 Covers 18 million sq. million sq. milesmiles

Line of Line of highest highest points make points make Con. DivideCon. Divide

400 million yrs. 400 million yrs. OldOld

Encircles Encircles Hudson BayHudson Bay

80 million yrs. 80 million yrs. oldold

Chapter 5 Section 2Chapter 5 Section 2

Alaska & Canada have tundra Alaska & Canada have tundra climate and vegetationclimate and vegetation. .

Winters= Long & ColdWinters= Long & Cold Summers= Short & Chilly (Even Summers= Short & Chilly (Even

in July the in July the temperature is 40 temperature is 40 degrees F.)degrees F.)

Rocky Mts. & Pacific ranges tend to Rocky Mts. & Pacific ranges tend to have a cold climate with sparse have a cold climate with sparse vegetation.vegetation.

North central & northeastern part of North central & northeastern part of the U.S. and southern Canada have the U.S. and southern Canada have a humid continental climate. a humid continental climate.

Winters= ColdWinters= Cold Summers= WarmSummers= Warm

Southern states of the U.S. have a Southern states of the U.S. have a humid subtropical climate. humid subtropical climate.

Summers= Hot & Muggy (75 to 90 Summers= Hot & Muggy (75 to 90 degrees F).degrees F).

Winters= Mild & CoolWinters= Mild & Cool

Great Plains tend to have a Great Plains tend to have a semiarid climate. An overall dry semiarid climate. An overall dry weather.weather.

Some southern states have a very Some southern states have a very dry climate receiving less than dry climate receiving less than 10 inches of rain in areas.10 inches of rain in areas.

Desert areas in this region are Desert areas in this region are the Mojave and Sonoran.the Mojave and Sonoran.

Chapter 5 Section 3Chapter 5 Section 3

Human-Environment Human-Environment InteractionInteraction

Places & TermsPlaces & Terms

NomadsNomads- people who move from - people who move from place to place.place to place.

BeringiaBeringia- a land bridge that once - a land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska.connected Siberia and Alaska.

LocksLocks- sections of a waterway with - sections of a waterway with closed gates where water levels are closed gates where water levels are raised and lowered.raised and lowered.

Settlement and Agriculture of Settlement and Agriculture of North AmericaNorth America

The first inhabitants of North The first inhabitants of North America came from Asia.America came from Asia.

Food sources of early settler’s Food sources of early settler’s included wild game and plant included wild game and plant foods. (Hunters & Gatherers)foods. (Hunters & Gatherers)

Early farmers cut down trees for Early farmers cut down trees for lumber to build houses and to lumber to build houses and to burn as fuel.burn as fuel.

The first Americans lived along The first Americans lived along coastlines and near rivers and coastlines and near rivers and streams because water was, and streams because water was, and still is necessary for survival.still is necessary for survival.

Landscape, climate, weather and the Landscape, climate, weather and the availability of natural resources also availability of natural resources also played a role as to where people played a role as to where people settled.settled.

Obstacles that early settlers Obstacles that early settlers faced when coming to North faced when coming to North America included: huge America included: huge distances, large bodies of water, distances, large bodies of water, harsh climates and hazardous harsh climates and hazardous landforms.landforms.

Present Canada and U.S. Present Canada and U.S.

Agriculture is still an important economic Agriculture is still an important economic activity in the United States and Canada. Both activity in the United States and Canada. Both countries are leading exporters of agricultural countries are leading exporters of agricultural products.products.

The United States has the world’s The United States has the world’s largest railroad system, while Canada largest railroad system, while Canada has the third largest.has the third largest.

The U.S. has nearly 4 million miles of roads, The U.S. has nearly 4 million miles of roads, and Canada has about 560,000 miles of and Canada has about 560,000 miles of roadways.roadways.