3.1 North American Geography
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Transcript of 3.1 North American Geography
North AmericaChapter 3-1: GEOGRAPHY
Our Goals
Identify landforms, bodies of water, and climates of
North America
Analyze the impact of resources and climate on
economic activities in the Great Plains
Explain the impact of geographic factors on economic
resources in the West
Make connections between Mexico’s geographic
features and the country’s economy
Physical Geography
North America = from the tip of Canada to the end of
Mexico
In the center is the forty-eight contiguous U.S. states
Alaska is northwest of Canada; Hawaii is in the Pacific
Highlands, Plains, &
Plateaus
Land elevation in North America rises from east to west
The Great Plains are east of the Rocky Mountains
Plains = flat areas of land, making up most of the center of the continent
Plateaus = flat areas of high elevation, located between mountains in the central U.S. and western Mexico
Rivers & Lakes
Major cities have developed along North America’s rivers
Ex. Cincinnati on the Ohio River, New Orleans on the Mississippi, and Juarez on the Rio Grande
The St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes provide a natural barrier between the U.S. and Canada
The Great Lakes combine to form the largest body of fresh water in the world!
The Rio Grande provides a natural border between the U.S. and Mexico
St. Lawrence River & Seaway
St. Lawrence Seaway Locks (1:43)
A Variety of Climates
This region includes temperate –or mild – climates, as well as extremes of cold and heat.
Parts of Alaska and Canada are covered by glaciers, or large masses of ice and snow
Much of northern Mexico is warm and dry, and Mexico’s southern half has warm climates and rain all year long
The Great Plains
The Great Plains runs through the center of the continent
Enough food is produced there to feed the population of North America
There is also enough left over to export, or send to other countries for aid or profit
We are the “breadbasket of the world”!
Farming on the Great
Plains
The Great Plains are “great” for growing food for two
reasons:
1) Rich soil with lots of nutrients
2) Climate that is temperate and enough rain
Sometimes, lack of rain for a long period of time brings
drought, which kills crops
Ex. During the 1930s, the Plains became known as the “Dust
Bowl” because of soil and wind erosion
The “Dust Bowl”
Farming on the Great
Plains
Today, prairie has been replaced by fields of
wheat, corn, and other grains
Huge farms where crops are planted and
harvested by machine are called commercial
agriculture, or the business of producing
crops to sell
Railways, ships, and rivers such as the
Missouri or Mississippi are frequently used to
help move grain to market
Energy Resources
The Great Plains have major deposits of oil and
natural gas
In the U.S., most resources are found in southern
Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas
There are also many offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of
Mexico, although this can be dangerous
Ex. In 2010, a BP oil rig caused a huge environmental
disaster
Wind power may also be important for the Great
Plains
The BP Oil Disaster