US and Canada Physical Geography
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Transcript of US and Canada Physical Geography
U.S. AND CANADA PHYSICAL
GEOGRAPHY
Overview In total area, both the U.S. and Canada
are among the largest countries in the world.
Canada is the 2nd largest country The U.S. is the 3rd largest country Together, these 2 countries fill 1/8 of the
land surface on earth
Natural Resources The U.S. and Canada
are very rich in natural resources.
They have fertile soils, plentiful supplies of water, vast forests, and large deposits of minerals
Both countries are leading agricultural and industrial nations because of their abundance of natural resources.
Natural Resources Examine the map of the U.S. and Canada’s
resources on pg. 120 and answer the following questions:
1) What resources seem to appear the most in the U.S.?
2) Which energy resource is more widespread in Canada than in the U.S.? Why is this?
3) What are some advantages Canada and the U.S. may have as a result of their abundant resources?
Landforms The U.S. and Canada have many different
types of landforms. Refer to the map on pg. 118 and answer the following questions:
1) What are two U.S. states and two Canadian provinces found in the Great Plains region?
2) Which U.S. state and which Canadian province seem to have the most diverse physical landforms?
Features of Canadian and U.S. Landforms
Rocky Mountains Great Plains Canadian Shield Appalachian Mountains
Western mountain chain
Mostly treeless area Rocky and Flat Eastern mountain chain
Extends 3,000 miles from New Mexico to
Alaska
4,000 feet above sea-level
Lies in northeast Canada
1,600 miles from Alabama to
Newfoundland
Its highest point is called the “Continental
Divide”
Runs from southern Texas up through southern Canada
Covers about 1.8 million square miles
Includes the Green, Catskill, and Smoky
Mountains
80 million years old Its fertile soil allows crops to grow in
abundance
Encircles the Hudson Bay
400 million years old
Bodies of Water The U.S. and Canada possess
ample water resources. They are bordered by 3
oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic. The U.S. is also bordered by the Gulf of Mexico.
As a result, both countries have important shipping, fishing, and trade industries.
Both countries have large rivers and lakes that serve as sources of transportation, hydroelectric power, irrigation, fresh water, and fisheries.
The continent’s longest and busiest river system is the Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio
8 of the world’s largest lakes are found in this region. Among these are the 5 Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.