United States and Canada WG.4
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics
Physical Characteristics The United States has abundant natural resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil and mineral deposits Forests
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics Physical Characteristics Natural Resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil & Minerals Forests
Fertile Soil Rio Grande Valley (citrus fruits) in the U.S. state of Texas and Mexico California’s Central Valley (fruits and vegetables) Gulf Coastal Plain (vegetables) Valleys of the Appalachians (cotton and tobacco)
Rio Grande Valley
California Central Valley
Gulf Coastal Plain
Oil and Mineral Deposits Mining and drilling as a billion dollar industry & provides millions of jobs North America = top coal, bauxite, and nickel producer in world Coal is a primary industry, especially in Appalachians Coal = nonrenewable resource Sago Mine Disaster, 2006 Gold and silver in west
Oil and Mineral Deposits Oil and natural gas = dominant industry in Gulf of Mexico and Arctic regions Nonrenewable resources Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 2010 Canada has the world’s largest crude oil deposit
Forests Management, cultivation, and harvesting of trees and other vegetation Strong in the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf states, and the South Atlantic coast plains Overharvesting = major problem Reduces biodiversity (different kinds of animals, plants, organisms in an area) Reduces time for the timber industry to function
Freshwater Industries = trade, fishing, transportation Water used for irrigation for farming
Waterways Erie Canal – manmade waterway that connects Lake Erie with the Hudson River in New York Provides trade route
Erie Canal
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics Physical Characteristics Natural Resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil & Minerals Forests Waterways Erie Canal
Waterways Colorado River –erosion created Grand Canyon It’s being diverted for irrigation to fields in the southwest U.S.
Colorado River
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics Physical Characteristics Natural Resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil & Minerals Forests Waterways Erie Canal Colorado River
Waterways Rio Grande River – part of the boundary between U.S. and Mexico
Rio Grande River
Climates in Canada Northern Canada = tundra Central Canada = subarctic
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics Physical Characteristics Natural Resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil & Minerals Forests Waterways Erie Canal Colorado River Rio Grande River Climates Canada-Tundra & Subarctic
Climates in the United States Northwest-Washington & Oregon = Marine West Coast Great Plains & Northeast = Humid Continental Southeastern = Humid Subtropical with mixed forests Hawaii = Tropical Wet Southwest = Desert & Steppe
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics Physical Characteristics Natural Resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil & Minerals Forests Waterways Erie Canal Colorado River Rio Grande River Climates Canada-Tundra & Subarctic U.S.-Marine West Coast, Humid Continental, Humid Subtropical, Tropical Wet, Desert, & Steppe Cultural Characteristics Diverse population Colonized by Europeans Multicultural societies High literacy rate Highly urbanized Democratic forms of gov’t Arts reflect heritage North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Unfortified border between U.S. & Canada
United States and Canada Identifying geographic characteristics Physical Characteristics Natural Resources Fertile soil Freshwater Oil & Minerals Forests Waterways Erie Canal Colorado River Rio Grande River Climates Canada-Tundra & Subarctic U.S.-Marine West Coast, Humid Continental, Humid Subtropical, Tropical Wet, Desert, & Steppe Cultural Characteristics Diverse population Colonized by Europeans Multicultural societies High literacy rate Highly urbanized Democratic forms of gov’t Arts reflect heritage North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Unfortified border between U.S. & Canada Economic Characteristics -Major exporters of technology, info systems, & food Highly developed infrastructure Diversified economies -Mineral, energy, & forest resources North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Multinational corporations -Center of world financial markets = NY Stock Exchange -U.S. culture spreads through global marketplace Widening gap between rich and poor -sets rules of trade and eliminates almost all tariffs between U.S., Canada, & Mexico
New York Stock Exchange
Multinational corporations spread U.S. Culture
2013
North American Free Trade Agreement