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1
Opening
• List the major Southern cities and one fact about each one, even if it is just the state it is in.
3
Today’s Standard(s)
• SSWG8 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Canada and the United States.
• a. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Canada and the United States.
• b. Describe the major climates of Canada and the United
States and how they affect Canada and the United States. • c. Explain the reasons for the population distribution in
Canada and the United States.
• d. Explain how the physical geography of Canada and the
United States contributed to regional growth and development.
3
Landforms & Climate
• Lies almost entirely w/in Interior Plains
• Entire region has humid-continental climate
• Subject to tornadoes
Mississippi River• Upper part of this river
system drains the region
Agriculture• 1 of most productive regions in world b/c:
– Hot, humid summers– Fertile soil– Level land– Agricultural technology
• township and range system- system, started by U.S. gov’t in late 1780’s, by which land NW of Ohio river was divided into sections and offered to people who agreed to farm them for at least 5 yrs
– Each section of land was 1 sq. mile
The Corn Belt
• Corn Belt- the area of the Midwestern U.S., stretching mainly from Ohio to Iowa, in which raising corn is a major economic activity
• Most corn grown is for livestock
• to preserve soil farmers use crop rotation and commercial fertilizers
The Dairy Belt
• Dairy Belt- Midwestern states, north of Corn Belt, in which dairy farming is a major economic activity
• summers are cooler and soils become rocky and less fertile
• Problems incl.- surplus of product, low prices, and changing American diet
The Great Lakes
• World’s largest freshwater lake system
• Contain 1/5 of world’s fresh surface water
• economic life line of region- provide inexpensive transportation to allow products to the Atlantic to compete on the world market
Major Mid-western Cities
• Chicago– 3rd largest U.S. city– Cultural capital of
Midwest• Detroit
– Leading automobile producer in country
• St. Louis– “gateway to the
West”
Cities (Cont.)
• The Twin Cities– Minneapolis and
St. Paul, Minnesota
– Retail center for upper Midwest
• Cleveland• Kansas City
– Starting point of Oregon trial
11
OpeningOpening
List the major Midwestern cities and one fact about each one (even if it is the state it is in)
13
The Great PlainsThe Great Plainsò include: Oklahoma,
Kansas, Nebraska, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas & parts of N.M.
ò Semi-arid/ steppe climate dominates
Extreme temperaturesDrought is a major issue
14
Great Plains Cont.Great Plains Cont.
ò During the Depression drought & dropping prices turned this region into “dust bowl”
ò Denver is region’s dominant city & economic center
15
The Rocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountainsò Stretch from Canada
through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico
ò Continental Divide- formed in the crest of the Rocky Mts./ divides major river systems of N.A. into those that flow eastward and those that flow westward
ò Highland climate
16
Rockies Cont.Rockies Cont.ò No major cities in this region, most people live in small townsò Major economic activity is tourism
Skiing destinations- AspenNational Parks- Yellowstone
ò Largest landowner in Rockies is U.S. gov’t
17
Intermountain WestIntermountain Westò Includes Arizona, Nevada and Utah, southern Idaho, and the western portions of Colorado and New Mexico
ò Climate in south = desert/ north= semiarid
ò Colorado River is lifeline of this region
Home to the Hoover damò Tourism important to
economy