Introducing North America

I. Quick Stats

Includes U.S. & Canada U.S consists of 50 States Federal Government Democracy 4th in world w/ land area 3rd in population Economic leader of free world

II. Major Landform Regions

Atlantic Coastal Plains Piedmont Appalachian Highlands Interior Highlands Great Plains Rocky Mountains Intermountain Pacific Mtn/Valley Interior Plains Canadian Shield Central Lowlands

Atlantic Coastal Plains

Piedmont

Appalachian Highlands

Interior Highlands

Great Plains

Rocky Mountains

Intermountain

Pacific Mtn/Valley

Interior Plains

Canadian Shield

Central Lowlands

Unit 2 Lecture 2

The United States

Quick Facts

Most populated region in U.S.

Consists of 3 Sub-regions New England states Middle Atlantic states Megalopolis

Overlaps previous two sub-regions

New England States

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Over 5% of total U.S. population Home of 1st colonist to come to N.

America 1st industrialized region in N.

America

Mid-Atlantic States

New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia

20% of total U.S. population Major cities Industrial giant Major hub for economic/political

decisions

Megalopolis

Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.

Major issues: Over population Lack of land Lack of jobs pollution

Major Landforms

Appalachian Mountains White Mountains Green Mountains Glacial deposits Coastal Plain Piedmont region

Climate

Humid-Continental in the north Hot summers/cold winters

Humid subtropical in the south Hot summers/mild winters

Agriculture

North Rocky soil limits farming Cranberries/potatoes Good for dairy and poultry farms

South Fruits/vegetables

Resources

North Major fishing industry (Cod/Lobster) Forests Mining for building stone

(granite/marble) South

Coal deposits Iron ore

Industry

First area for heavy textile plants Higher education

Major schools (Harvard, Yale, etc.) Biotechnology

Biology in industrial process Tourism

Many historic sites

Unit 2 Lecture 3

Southeastern United States

Quick Facts

Includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia

Majority of population lives on small farms

Major plantation industry History tied to slavery Ethnically diverse

Major Landforms

Barrier Islands Everglades Mississippi Delta Blue Ridge Mountains Smokey Mountains Ozark Plateau

Climate

Humid Sub-Tropical Steppe/Desert (Further West in

Texas) Average rain 40-60 inches per year Late summer area prone to

hurricanes

River Systems

Mississippi River one of largest in world

Drains nearly half of U.S. Prone to flooding Levee system Delta system

Agriculture

Cotton Tobacco Citrus Peanuts Soybeans Beef

Major Industry

Oil refineries Petrochemical Plants Tourism

Regional Issues

Ethnic issues Flooding/Hurricanes Droughts High unemployment High poverty rates

Unit 2 Lecture 4

MIDWESTERN STATES

Quick Facts

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.

Nation’s agricultural center Great Lakes increases international

trade Rich Native American roots

Major Landforms

Interior Plains Ozark Plateau Many lakes due to glaciers Humid-Continental Climate

The Great Lakes

Largest freshwater lake system in the world

Includes 20% of entire world’s fresh water

Includes Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.

St. Lawrence River is highway system to lakes.

Mississippi River

Drains all the Mid-west Major tributaries include Ohio,

Missouri, and Illinois.

Agriculture

Leading producers in dairy products, port, corn, and soybeans

The Corn Belt The Dairy Belt

Natural Resources/Industry

Pine forests Wildlife/hunting Lead/copper/iron mining Coal

Issues

Heavy industrialized area High levels of unemployment

(Ford?) Water quality Pollution

Unit 2 Lecture 5

The Interior West

Quick Facts

Idaho, Montana, North/South Dakotas, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

“Old West” 3 Sub-regions

Great Plains Rocky Mtns Intermountain West

Great Plains

Major Landforms The Great Plains Sand hills Badlands

Climate Steppe

Great Plain cont…..

Major issues Droughts End of open range Major wheat production Over use of water supplies Foreign markets for wheat Strip mining of natural resources

Rocky Mountains

Rich in natural resources Continental Divide Highland climates Tree line

Economic geography

Mostly still wild Gold, silver mining Ranching Forestry Tourism

Intermountain West

Physical Geography Between Rocky/Cascade Mtns Three regions

Great Basin Colorado Plateau Columbia Plateau

Great Basin Centered in Nevada Rivers flow into basins and dry up Dry lake beds/salt flats

Colorado Plateau Deep canyons (Grand Canyon) Dry, desert climate

Columbia Plateau Northern part of Intermtn west Centered in central Idaho Snake River major tributary to

Columbia

Agriculture Irrigated Small portion used for farming Major rivers are the life blood of region

UNIT 2 LECTURE 6

THE PACIFIC STATES

Quick Facts

Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Alaska

Coldest state, only island state Mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes Rich natural resources

California

Major landforms Coast Ranges

Rugged coastline Sierra Nevada

Lies inland from coast Central Valley

Between coast and Sierra-Nevadas Desert Basin

East of Sierra-Nevadas

Climate

Marine West Coast up North Mediterranean in coastal Southern Desert/Steppe inland behind Sierra-

Nevadas

Agriculture

Leads nation Year-round growing seasons Irrigation uses 85% of water supply Variety of fruits/vegetables/citrus

Natural Resources

Gold Oil Fishing tourism

Major Industry

Aerospace Entertainment Microelectronics Lumber

Oregon & Washington

Landforms Coastal Ranges Puget Sound Willamette Valley Cascades Columbia Basin

Climate Marine West Coast in West

Due to windward side of Cascades Desert/steppe in east

Due to leeward side of Cascades

Agriculture

Dairy, fruit, vegetables, vineyards Located mainly:

Willamette Valley Puget Sound lowlands Columbia Basin

Resources & Industry

Forestry Fishing Recreation

Major urban areas

I-5 Corridor Seattle Portland Spokane Tri-Cities

Mainly rural communities

Alaska

Sparsely populated Inuit Eskimos

Landforms Very rugged Mountainous Volcanic

Climate Marine-West Coast Sub arctic Tundra

Resources

Oil Gold Fishing forests

Hawaii

8 major islands Stretch over 1,500 miles Volcanic Humid-tropical climate Heavy tourism