US and Canada Physical Features

1-What is the “Big Idea” for Section 1? Geographers organize the Earth into regions that share common characteristics.

2-After reading and writing down the “Big Idea,” list 3 common characteristics shared by the United States and Canada. They share a long border and many landforms Their economies are closely liked by trade Their governments have worked together on projects that have changed the land to the benefit of both countries.

Major Landforms 3-What is the Main Idea? The region rises in elevation from east to west

4- a. CANADA is the second-largest country in the world in terms of area. b. UNITED STATES is the third-largest country in the world in terms of area. c. Define “contiguous.” Joined together inside a common boundary e. How many U.S. states are contiguous? 48 f. List U.S. states that are NOT contiguous. HAWAII and ALASKA

Contiguous United States

Eastern Lowlands and Highlands 5-The United States and Canada have a variety of LANDFORMS a. A broad LOWLAND runs along the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico coasts. b. What is a “megalopolis?” A CONNECTED AREA of URBAN COMMUNITIES c. Which United States Atlantic coastal cities make up a megalopolis? Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC d. What is the importance of the Atlantic megalopolis? It is an important economic, cultural and political center of the United States. e. Which highland area runs from eastern Canada to Alabama? Appalachian Mountains

Appalachian Mountains: Oldest mountains in North America

Interior Lowlands 6. Much of the Great Plains is a prairie. Define: “prairie.” Rolling inland grasses with fertile soil b. What was the Great Plains once used for? Food for the buffalo and Native Americans who lived there. c. What is it used for today? Farmers grow grains; ranchers raise cattle d. What natural resources can you find on the Great Plains? Rich reserves of coal, oil and natural gas.

The Great Plains

Western Mountains and Plateaus 7. West of the Great Plains is a cordillera.. Define: “cordillera.” A group of mountain ranges that run side by side. b. At the eastern edge of the cordillera, the Rocky Mountains begin in Alaska and run south to New Mexico. c. Near the Pacific coast is a series of 4 mountain chains that make up the western part of the cordillera. List them. 1-Sierra Nevada 2-Cascade Range 3-Coast Ranges 4-Alaska Range [Mt. McKinley: highest point in N. America]

Western Cordillera

Bodies of Water 8. What is the “Main Idea?” in this section? The region’s waterways provide transportation and electric power. a. The United States and Canada have numerous freshwater LAKES and RIVERS. b. The MISSISSIPPI River flows 2,350 miles. It begins as a stream in Minnesota before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. c. The CONTINENTAL DIVIDE in the Rockies determines the direction that rivers flow.

Mississippi River / Continental Divide

Natural Resources 9. What is the “Main Idea?” in this section? The region has many energy, mineral and other natural resources.

10. Energy resources and raw materials have made it possible for the United States and Canada to develop STRONG INDUSTRIAL economies. Oil, natural gas and COAL are major energy resources; rivers and lakes also provide HYDROELECTRIC power. b. RICH SOIL in parts of the United States and Canada allows farming and FORESTS provide for a timber industry. c. Coastal waters support fishing industries, but recently OVERFISHING has become a problem.