North American Physical Geography

Highlands , Plains and Plateaus

• Highlands– North American Elevation rises to the west– Appalachian Mts. and Laurentain Highlands– Rocky Mts. –Mexico to Alaska– Coast Mts. – British Columbia to California

• Plains– Low flatland– Appear by coasts – Great plains- center of North America

• Plateaus– Flat land, high elevation, may be between mountains– Western United States and Mexico(mesas)

Rivers and Lakes

• Rivers– Major cities developed along rivers– St. Lawrence – major waterway from Great Lakes to

Atlantic Ocean– Rio Grande- natural border between Mexico and

United States• Lakes– Great Lakes- largest body of fresh water in the world– Form the boundary between U.S. and Canada

Great Plains Key Ideas

• Major agricultural area- grains, corn, soybeans, and much more

• Feeds U.S. and Canada- “breadbasket” and exports surpluses

• Rich supply of Energy- oil and natural gas

The Great Plains

• Stretches from Missouri River to the Rocky Mts.• Rich soil• Climate – temperate• Abundant rainfall, irrigate dry areas• Transport goods on rivers- Mississippi, Missouri• Railroads move goods in U.S. and Canada• Major agricultural region- many different crops• Major oil and natural gas deposits

Western Mountains and Deserts

• Landforms and Climate– Cordillera- Rocky Mts. and Sierra Nevada Mts.– Between the mountains is the Great Basin

• Dry, little rainfall• Sparse plant life• Sandy soil• Desert climate

– Grand Canyon• Dry • Some desert• Deep steep gorges• Soft rock

Resources and Conservation

• Resources– Mountains provide many mineral resources– Natural gas , especially in southwestern Canada– Electricity- dams

• Conservation-– Water in short supply

- huge population growth- drought

Hoover dam supplies- electricity, drinking water and irrigation for Arizona, Southern California and Nevada

Mexico’s Mountains and Plateaus• Landforms and Climate

– Peninsulas • Baja- western Mexico near California• Yucatan- southeastern Mexico

– Mountains• Sierra Madres

– Occidental in the west– Oriental in the east– Del Sur in the south

– Plateau- Mexican Plateau lies between the mountains• Southern part- Mesa Central• Mexico City • 20% of population lives here’• Rich volcanic soil- Pico de Orizaba• Northern- Mesa del Norte