Natural Environments of North America :1 Natural Environments of North America Section 1: Physical Features Section 2: Climates and Biomes Section 3: Natural Resources CHAPTER 7


Major landform regions of the United States and Canada generally stretch from north to south. :2 Major landform regions of the United States and Canada generally stretch from north to south. From east to west: _______________________ piedmont _______________________ interior plains _____________________________________________________________________ _______________________ intermountain region Pacific Coast region Alaska and Hawaii Section 1 Physical Features


Slide 3:3 SECTION 1 Physical Features Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain Piedmont Appalachian Highlands along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico Alabama to New Jersey Alabama to Southeastern Canada long coastal plain, begins at sea level and gradually rises upland region at the foot of the Appalachians several ranges, valleys, and ridges; low eroded mountains Interior Plains between Appalachians and Rocky Mountains rolling hills, many rivers and lakes, productive soils Interior Highlands Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma old eroded highlands Landform Regions of North America


Bodies of water: :4 Bodies of water: Major river systems _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Mackenzie River system Western rivers: Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Yukon Major lakes _______________________________________________ Northern Canada: Athabasca, Great Slave, Great Bear Section 1 Physical Features


Climates :5 Climates tropical wet and dry— ___________________________________________ humid subtropical—most of southeastern U.S. ___________________ —northeastern U.S., southern and southeastern Canada semi-arid—Great Plains, parts of intermountain region highland— _________________________________ Section 2 Climates and Biomes


Climates (continued) :6 Climates (continued) ____________________ —southeastern Alaska to northern California ____________________ —southern and central California tropical humid—parts of Hawaii tundra—far northern North America subarctic— _________________________________ Section 2 Climates and Biomes


Slide 7:7 SECTION 2 Climates and Biomes Climate Types of North America tropical wet and dry very tip of Florida, western Hawaii humid subtropical southeast United States humid continental northeastern United States and southeastern Canada semiarid Great Plains, western mountains arid areas east of Sierra Nevada and Cascades marine west coast southern Alaska through northern California Mediterranean southern and central California tropical humid eastern Hawaii tundra across northern Alaska to Newfoundland and Quebec subarctic northern Canada and Alaska


Biomes :8 Biomes temperate forest—southeastern U.S. and much of the U.S. and Canadian west semiarid and desert—much of southwestern U.S. grassland— __________________________ boreal forest—about half of Canada and Alaska arctic tundra—northernmost region tropical— ____________________________ Section 2 Climates and Biomes


Farming, forest, and water resources: :9 Farming, forest, and water resources: Farming _______________________________________________ abundant production of crops and livestock Forests _______________________________________________ major U.S. forests in southeast and northwest Water plentiful supplies _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Section 3 Natural Resources


Energy resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada. :10 Energy resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada. coal— ___________________________________________ oil and natural gas—also plentiful, but ____________ _____________________________________________ Section 3 Natural Resources


Mineral resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada. :11 Mineral resources are abundant in both the U.S. and Canada. Canada is rich in nickel, zinc, and uranium—especially in the Canadian Shield—and also produces __________________________________________. U.S. has valuable deposits of iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver. Section 3 Natural Resources


Slide 12:12 SECTION 3 Natural Resources