Landforms and Resources

Home , Central United States, Interior Plains

Name ______Class ______Date ______Physical Geography of the United States and Canada Section 1 Landforms and Resources Terms and Names Appalachian Mountains major mountain chain in the eastern United States and Canada Great Plains largely treeless area in the interior lowlands Canadian Shield rocky, flat area that surrounds Hudson Bay Rocky Mountains mountain chain in the western United States and Canada Continental Divide line of the highest points in the Rockies that marks the separation between rivers flowing to the east and to the west Great Lakes five large lakes found in the central United States and Canada Mackenzie River Canada’s longest river

Before You Read In the last chapter, you read about human geography–the way humans in general relate to their environment. In this section, you will learn about the physical features and resources of the United States and Canada.

As You Read Use a graphic organizer to take notes about the landforms and resources of the United States and Canada.

LANDSCAPE INFLUENCED The United States and Canada are rich DEVELOPMENT (Page 117) in natural resources. They have much How vast are these countries? fertile soil and water and many forests and The United States and Canada occupy the minerals. This geographic richness has central and northern four-fifths of the attracted immigrants from around the continent of North America. Culturally, the world for centuries. region is known as Anglo America. This is 1. What binds Canada and the United because both countries were colonies of States together? Great Britain at one time and because most of ______the people speak English. In addition to their physical geography and cultural heritage, the ______two countries are also bound together by strong economic and political ties. MANY AND VARIED LANDFORMS The United States and Canada stretch (Pages 119–121) across North America. In total area, they What features do these countries are the second (Canada) and third (the share? United States) largest countries in the All the major types of landforms are world, behind Russia. found in the United States and Canada.

A flat, coastal plain runs along the Nevada and the Cascade Range, run Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. parallel to the Pacific coastline from One section is called the Atlantic Coastal California to Alaska. Major earthquakes Plain. It begins as a narrow lowland in the occur in the vicinity of the Pacific ranges. northeastern United States and widens as Between these ranges and the Rockies are it extends into Florida. The broader steep cliffs, deep canyons, and lowland section is called the Gulf Coastal Plain. It desert areas called basins. stretches from Florida to Texas along the Canada’s northernmost lands are islands Gulf of Mexico. near the Arctic Circle. Two chains of West of the coastal plain are the volcanic islands are part of the Appalachian Highlands. The Appalachian westernmost United States. The Aleutian Mountains are part of the region. They Islands extend in an arc off the coast of stretch some 1,600 miles from Alaska. The Hawaiian Islands lie in the Newfoundland to Alabama. central Pacific, about 2,400 miles A huge area of mainly level land covers southwest of the mainland. the interior of North America. Huge 2. What is the Continental Divide? glaciers flattened the land thousands of years ago. The area has some of the most ______productive soil in the world. The interior lowlands are divided into ______three subregions—the Interior Plains, the Great Plains, and the Canadian Shield. RESOURCES SHAPE WAYS OF The Interior Plains spread out from the LIFE (Pages 121–122) Appalachians to about 300 miles west of Which minerals are abundant? the Mississippi River. To the west are the Canada and the United States are Great Plains. These plains are a largely bordered by three oceans—Atlantic, treeless area that rise to about 4,000 feet. Pacific, and Arctic. The Gulf of Mexico is North of the plains is the Canadian the southern boundary of the United Shield. It is a rocky, flat region that covers States. As a result, both countries have nearly two million square miles around important shipping and fishing industries. Hudson Bay. Inland, there are large rivers and lakes West of the plains are the massive, that serve as sources of transportation, rugged Rocky Mountains, the other irrigation, hydroelectric power, fresh major mountain system of the United water, and fisheries. Eight of the world’s States and Canada. The Rockies are a fifteen largest lakes are found in the series of ranges that extend about 3,000 United States and Canada. Among these miles from Alaska south to New Mexico. are the Great Lakes—Huron, Ontario, Many peaks are more than 12,000 feet Michigan, Erie, and Superior. high. The Continental Divide is the line The Mississippi River runs almost the of the highest points in the Rockies. It length of the United States. It is part of the marks the division between rivers flowing continent’s longest and busiest river eastward and westward. system. Canada’s largest river is the Between the Rockies and the Pacific Mackenzie River. Ocean is an area of mixed landforms. A The United States and Canada contain series of ranges, including the Sierra some of the most fertile soils in the world.

Because of this fact, North America is the silver, copper, and uranium are found in world’s leading food exporter. the western mountains. The United States and Canada also have Both countries have large deposits of huge forests. About one-half of Canada is coal, natural gas, and oil. Both countries covered by woodlands. About one-third of also are leading mineral producers. the United States is. Both countries are 3. What do significant water resources major producers of lumber and forest provide? products. Huge quantities of minerals and fossil ______fuels gave both countries the means to industrialize rapidly. Deposits of iron ore, ______nickel, copper, gold, and uranium are located in the Canadian Shield. Gold,

Use the chart below to compare the landforms of the United States and Canada.

Landforms of the United States and Canada 1. eastern lowlands 2. Appalachian highlands

3. interior lowlands 4. western mountains, plateaus, and basins

5. islands