North America

The US and Canada occupy 4/5 of the continent. What country occupies the other 1/5? Mexico

Which country is largest? Canada: 3.9 million square miles US: 3.2 million square miles

Who has the largest population? Canada: 35 million US: 322 million

Although they are about the same size, Canada has a much smaller population. Why? Think about our discussions on population distribution and why people settle in certain areas.

What large bodies of water surround North America? Atlantic Pacific Gulf of Mexico Arctic

Physical Regions of the United States

Identify some of the states in the Great Plains?

What are the two mountainous regions?

What are the oldest mountains?

What are the highest mountains?

What islands form a state?

What type of map is this?

Which state has the longest border with Canada?

Which state has the longest border with Mexico?

Where is Canada’s greatest population density?

Where is the U.S.’s greatest population density?

What do you think is responsible for the population pattern?

What is the majority climate region of Canada?

What is the majority climate region of the United States?

Could climate have anything to do with the population density of the regions?

Physical Features: Bodies of Water Mexico and the US are neighbors with the Rio Bravo River (Rio Grande) making up part of the border. At other parts of our borders it difficult to tell where one country begins and the other ends = border patrol issues.

Mexico - Bodies of Water Mexico, outside of our border, is almost completely surrounded by water. The Pacific Ocean is on the west and Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico on the east.

Peninsulas Mexico also has two peninsulas that jut into the ocean. The Baja Peninsula cuts into the Pacific on the west and the Yucatan into the Atlantic separating the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea.

Plateaus and Mountains Most of the interior is covered by the Mexican Plateau, a rugged area that ranges from ½ mile to 2 miles above sea level. It sits between the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges.

Mountains These two ranges along with another shorter one to the south create the Sierra Madre mother range. Between the two ranges lies the Mexican Valley. Mexico City, the capital lies in the Mexican Valley.

Volcano and Earthquake Zone The southern mountain zone includes volcanoes and earthquake zones. Popocatepetl, a volcano near Mexico City. Has been active as recently as 2010.

Climates and Vegetation Snow capped mountains and hot sunny beaches are just two examples of Mexico’s many climates. The varied climates promote a wide variety of types of vegetation.