Physical Geography of the United States and Canada

Landforms Colorado Plateau was eroded by the Colorado River to form the Grand Canyon (in Arizona) Great Basin includes Death Valley (in South Eastern California) – the hottest and lowest place in the U.S.

The Grand Canyon

Death Valley

Mountains Mountains form because of collisions between tectonic plates Mountains are on east and west edges of both United States and Canada

Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains link the U.S. and Canada – from New Mexico to Alaska Dry basins and plateaus found between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains

Basin

The Pacific Ranges Mount Stuart is a massive rocky pyramid that utterly dominates the view from Longs Pass.

Eastern Mountains include the Canadian Shield and Appalachian Mountains Canadian Shield is a gigantic core of rock that anchors North America It makes up the eastern half of Canada and North Eastern United States Canadian Shield

Appalachian Mountains Appalachian Mountains extend from Quebec to central Alabama Coastal lowlands are east and south of the Appalachian Mountains

The Great Plains

Located east of the Rocky Mountains Extends 400 miles across center of United States Grasses, very little trees, ideal for farming, little change in elevation Great Plains

Islands

Manhattan Island - at the mouth of the Hudson River - a major world economic center The Hawaiian Islands – were formed by volcanic mountains in Pacific Ocean United States’ Islands

Manhattan Island

Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island – in the East Vancouver Island – in the West Canada’s Islands

Vancouver Island

Water In North America, the high ridge of the Rockies is called the Continental Divide. –A divide is a high point or ridge that determines the direction that rivers flow –Some rivers have their headwaters, or source, in the Rockies –Many tributaries, or brooks, rivers, and streams, flow into these rivers

Rivers Mississippi River is North America’s longest river. - it runs from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico St. Lawrence River is one of Canada’s most important rivers. - it links the cities of Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa

Fall Line The Fall Line marks the place where the higher land of the Piedmont drops to the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain Along the line, rivers become rapids and waterfalls Cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. are along the fall line Niagara Falls (along US/Canadian border) is used for hydro-electric power

The Piedmont

Niagara Falls