1. Natural Environments of North America
That means what the land and stuff is like in the United States and Canada
Natural Environments of North America

2. Section 1 Objectives
●Identify the major landform regions of the United States and Canada. ●Locate the rivers and lakes found in the region.

3. 3 Facts about Landforms of North America
US and Canada make up 80% of the continent
Both countries contain all major landforms
The eastern half of the continent is older than the western
This is seen by eroded mountains, rolling hills, & flat lands in the east, with steep mountains, active volcanoes, and deep canyons

4. Give definitions for each
Barrier Islands
Piedmont
Fall Line
Deposits of sand in shallow water by ocean currents
Area at or near the foot of a mountain region
Natural boundary between 2 landform regions with different elevations marked by rapids & water falls

5. Information on the East and Interior of North America
Appalachians were created by a collision between North America and Africa 300 million years ago
Between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains lies the Great Plains that drain water into the Mississippi River
Canadian Shield is an arc of ancient rock that has little soil for farming due to glacial sheering, but contains many mineral resources

6. Locate the following: Great Basin California Death Valley
Sierra Nevada Mnt Range
Cascade Mnt Range

7. Define and locate Basin Hot Spot
Definition  Lowland area surrounded by mountains
Location  Great Basin and Death Valley
Definition  a place where magma wells up to the surface from earth’s mantle
Location  Hawaiian Islands, Alevitian Islands (AK)

8. How did glaciers create lakes & rivers in this region?
Continental ice sheets widened & deepened basins that filled with water as the ice melted

9. Section 2 Objectives
●Identify the climate types found in the United States and Canada. ●Name the major biomes of the region and describe where they are found.

10. List the climates found in North America and give an example of each.
Tropical Wet/Dry
Southern tip of Florida
Humid Subtropical
Southeast US
Humid Continental
New England
Semiarid
Great Plains
Arid
Arizona
Marine West Coast
Washington state

11. List the climates found in North America and give an example of each.
Mediterranean
Southern part of California
Tropical Humid
Eastern Hawaii
Tundra
Southern Alaska
Subarctic
Northern Alaska

12. What are natural hazards?
Definition  Events in the physical environment that can destroy human life and property
Ex. Floods, Hail, Lightening & Tornadoes

13. What type of plant and animal life do each of these areas have?
Southeastern US
Pacific Coast
Southwestern US
Temperate forest biome/ Deer & Raccoon
Redwood forest/ Black bear, eagle, and salmon
Semiarid & Arid biome/ Coyotes, hawks, jack rabbit

14. What type of plant and animal life do each of these areas have?
Northern North America
Southern Fl & Hawaii
Eastern Hawaii
Boreal forest (Spruce & Pine)/ Elk, caribou, moose, & wolf
Tropical biomes (Palm tree)/ alligators, lizards, & migratory birds
Tropical rain forest/ Toucan, shellfish, & reptiles

15. Section 3 Objectives
●Describe the farming, forest, and water resources of the United States and Canada. ●Analyze the region’s supply of energy and mineral resources.

16. Only 3% of the total population participate
What is different about farming in North America than the rest of the world?
Only 3% of the total population participate
All occupants are feed while having a surplus
North America has a wide variety of climates and soils, allowing for a wide variety of plants to be grown.

17. What are alluvial soils? Location?
Where
Soils deposited by streams, mountain run off & rivers.
Mississippi Valley
California Central Valley
Imperial Valley
Rio Grande Valley

18. Facts about North America’s forests.
Both the U.S. and Canada are leading exporters and producers of forest products
Japan an the U.S. get newsprint from Canada
About 1/3 of the U.S. is forested.
Major commercial farms are located in Southeast and Pacific Northwest.

19. T/F Pollution has greatly affected the fishing industry in North America.
True. It has decreased numbers and size of fish as well as changing the location they can be found.

20. What energy resources are abundant in North America? Location?
Coal – U.S. has about 25% of the world’s coal reserve
-Appalachian Mnts, Rocky Mnts, Interior Plain, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia
Oil is in abundance, however we use more than we produce
-Texas and Alaska. New deposits found in the Gulf of Mexico
Mineral Resources – Metals
- Canadian Shield

21. Why are wetlands such an important resource?
These are habitats for marine life and wildlife
Water resources are natural protection against erosion and pollution
Provide recreational destinations for many families.