Physical Geography of the Physical Geography of the U.S. & CanadaU.S. & Canada

Chapter 5 Section 1Chapter 5 Section 1

- U.S. & Canada cover 7 million sq. miles

- 12% of Earth

Western FeaturesWestern Features• Pacific Ranges

– Formed by colliding plates (Pacific & N.A.)

– Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, Alaska Range, and Coast Mountains (in Canada)

Mt. McKinley (Alaska Range) = tallest peak

in N.A. at 20,320 feet

Western FeaturesWestern Features

• Great California Valley– alluvial valley

– out produces any other region in fruit & vegetable production

In Between LandformsIn Between Landforms

• Dry basins and plateaus fill area between Pacific Ranges and Rockies – Why?– rain shadow effect from Pacific Ranges

In Between LandformsIn Between Landforms

• Great Basin Region: area of low land surrounded by mts.– Great Basin, Mojave,

Sonoran, & Chihuahuan Deserts

In Between LandformsIn Between Landforms– Death Valley:

• hottest & lowest (282 ft. below sea level) place

in N. Am.• dancing rocks

phenomenon

In Between LandformsIn Between Landforms

• Columbia Plateau-– Created by lava

seeping thru cracks• Flood basalt

– Eventually part of crust sank into space left by lava

In Between LandformsIn Between Landforms• Colorado Plateau-

– Created by tectonics and erosion (Colo. River)

– Grand Canyon @ southern end

– Walls as steep as 6,000 ft

Hoover DamHoover Dam

• Built on Colorado River b/w Arizona and Nevada (1931-1935)

• What is purpose of building dam?– to provide irrigation, flood

control, and hydroelectric-power