World Geography Ch. 7, 8, & 9 North America United States & Canada United States • 50 U.S. States • Shares a northern border with Canada & southern border with Mexico • Fourth in the World in land area & third in Population • U.S & Canada Make up 80% of the Continent of North America Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Landforms of United States • Coastal Plain – stretches along the Atlantic Ocean & the Gulf of Mexico. • Piedmont – area at or near the foot of a mountain region. • Appalachian Mts. – stretch from Alabama to Southeastern Canada. • Interior Plains – between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. • Great Plains – part of Interior Plains • Rocky Mountains – Run from Canada to New Mexico • Intermountain Region – between the Rockies and the Coastal Mountain Ranges. • Sierra Nevada & Cascade Mountain ranges – Located on the Pacific Coast Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Rocky Mountains Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Smoky Mountains (Appalachians) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Continental Divide • The Continental Divide is located at the crest of the Rocky Mountains. • It divides North America’s major river systems into: – Those flowing eastward (Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers) – Those flowing westward (Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, and Yukon Rivers). • North America also has more lakes than any other Continent. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Climactic Influences • Four major factors influence climate in the United States – Middle Latitude Locations – Prevailing Winds – Ocean Currents – High Mountain Ranges • All Climates of the world are found in North America. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Forests and Biomes • Most of the Southeastern U.S. and Canada have a temperate forest biome. • Much of the Southwestern U.S. has a semiarid and desert biome. • About ½ of Canada and Alaska have a boreal forest biome. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) North America Natural Resources • The U.S. & Canada are very abundant in natural resources. • Only about 3% of the U.S & Canada farm for a living • The U.S. has about 25% of the world’s coal reserves. • The Canadian Shield is rich in valuable minerals and is a leading source of lead, copper, gold, and silver. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) U.S. History & Settlement • U.S. is home to almost 300 million people (roughly 5% of the world’s population). • Earliest Americans were Native Americans came from Asia across a land bridge. • By 1600’s, explorers from Spain, France, Great Britain, & the Netherlands had set up colonies in the present day U.S. • Slaves arrived around the early 1600’s • U.S. declared Independence on July 4, 1776. • The 19th century was a time of immigration and western expansion. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) U.S. Population • Since World Wars I & II the U.S. has become one of the richest and most powerful nations in the world. • America is very diverse. Used to be mainly European (3/4), but today African American, Native American, Asian, and Hispanic populations are growing. • Mainly a Christian country, but nearly all religions are represented. • U.S. has some of the best higher education in the world. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Population Diversity Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Sections of the United States • Northeastern United States • Midwestern United States • Southern United States • Western United States Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Northeastern United States • Has Three Regions – New England – Middle Atlantic States – Megalopolis Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Northeast Facts • Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C. – Smallest yet most densely populated area in the U.S. – The political and financial center of the U.S. – Leader in Higher Education (Harvard, Yale, & MIT) • Megalopolis – a group of cities that have grown into one large built up area. – Megalopolis consists of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) New York State Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) New York Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) New York Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) New York Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) https://vimeo.com/179629541 Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Boston Boston Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Harvard University Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Philadelphia, Penn Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Philadelphia Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Washington the District of Columbia Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Washington D.C. Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Washington D.C. Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Washington D.C. Pictures Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Midwestern States Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Midwestern States • Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri • Great Lakes located here • Very Agricultural area – Midwest is one of the most productive farming regions in the world. • Industry thrives in this region. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Great Lakes Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Ships in a Lock Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Midwest Major Industrial Cities • Chicago – – largest city in the Midwest – 3rd largest city in nation • Detroit – – 10th largest city in the nation. • St. Louis • Twin Cities – Home to the Mall of Americas • Cleveland • Kansas City (two of them) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chicago Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Sears Tower and Chicago View from Waterfront Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Detroit, Michigan Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) St Louis, MO Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Southern United States Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Southern United States • Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas • Historically Rural and Agricultural, but attracting industry in the last decades. • Contains 30% of the country’s population. • Dallas-Ft. Worth area is the most populated area of the south. • Spanish is a more common language than English in many southern cities. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) New Orleans, LA Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Houston, Texas Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Houston Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Atlanta, Georgia Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Nashville, Tenn. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Everglades, Florida Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Interior West Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Pacific States Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) The West • North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona. • The Pacific West states are California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, & Hawaii. • The West is the largest, but most sparsely populated region of the U.S. • Interior West’s major economic activity is mining & livestock. • Pacific States historically depended on farming, however in 20th century Silicon Valley has made California leading center for computer technology. • Alaska & Hawaii depend heavily on natural resources & tourism. • LosChap. Angeles 7, 8, & 9 (North is America) the largest metro area in the West. Majors Place, Nevada Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Apache Junction Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Genesee, Colorado Rocky Mountains Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Rocky Mountain Trailer Park, Montana Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Wall, South Dakota Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Koehn Lake, Mojave Desert, California Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Mill Valley, California Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) San Francisco Housing Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Mnt McKenley Denali, Alaska, United States Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Canada Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Canada • Second largest country in the world in land size • 10 provinces and three northern territories • First settlers were Natives that crossed land bridge. • First Europeans in the area were Vikings, followed by French, and then British • More than 31 million people live in Canada today. • Canada has its own parliament and prime minister, but their Queen is the British Queen • Quebec & Ontario are the financial, industrial, and political centers. • Canada has a market economy. Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America) Chap. 7, 8, & 9 (North America).