Physical Features and Humans and the Physical Environment

Where in the World are you?

• The United States and Canada are located in North America. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean and west is the Pacific Ocean. South borders Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Canada is larger than the United States and is the second-largest country in the world. The United States is the 4th largest but has 10 times more people than Canada.

Landforms of the United States

• Rocky Mountains: largest mountain system in North America

• Continental Divide: Along the spine of the rocky mountains and separates the flow of rivers

• Appalachian Mountains: 2nd largest mountain system

• Death Valley: hottest place in North America• Glaciers: huge, slow-moving sheets of ice.

Rocky Mountains

Continental Divide

Appalachian Mountains

Death Valley

Glaciers

Major Bodies of Water

• United States and Canada have important lakes and rivers. Many Americans and Canadian cities developed near these bodies of water.

• Great Lakes- Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Worlds largest group of fresh water lakes. Only lake Michigan lies entirely in the United States. All other 4 lakes are between the United States and Canada. They formed from melting ice from ancient glaciers. Shipping on the Great Lakes helped industry to develop in the two countries.

Great Lakes

Mighty Rivers

• St. Lawrence River: connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

• Mississippi River: Native Americans called the Mississippi River the “Father of Waters”. It begins in Minnesota and flows through the Central Plains to the Gulf of Mexico.

• Ohio and Missouri River: tributaries of the Mississippi River.

• Tributary: is a stream that flows into a larger river.

Mississippi River

Climate Zones

• Canada's Climate: it is far north of the Equator so much of it is VERY COLD!

• United States Climate: depends on what part. Closer to the equator will be warm. Further from the equator will be colder.

Natural Vegetation Zones

• Northern Tundra's: Tundra is a cold, dry region in the far north that is covered with snow for more than half the year.

• Permafrost: Permanently frozen soil• Prairies: grasslands, that are flat or rolling land

covered with grasses.• Desert Scrub: Little rainfall, few plants• Forests: Cover nearly one third of the United

States and almost one half of Canada.

United States and Canada Vegetation

Northern Tundra

Prairies

Desert Scrub

Forests