United States and Canada
WG.4
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristics
Physical Characteristics
• The United States has abundant natural resources
• Fertile soil
• Freshwater
• Oil and mineral deposits
• Forests
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristicsPhysical Characteristics
Natural ResourcesFertile soil
FreshwaterOil & MineralsForests
Fertile Soil
• Rio Grande Valley (citrus fruits) in the U.S. state of Texas and Mexico
• California’s Central Valley (fruits and vegetables)
• Gulf Coastal Plain (vegetables)
• Valleys of the Appalachians (cotton and tobacco)
Rio Grande Valley
California Central Valley
Gulf Coastal Plain
Oil and Mineral Deposits
• Mining and drilling as a billion dollar industry & provides millions of jobs
• North America = top coal, bauxite, and nickel producer in world
• Coal is a primary industry, especially in Appalachians
• Coal = nonrenewable resource
• Sago Mine Disaster, 2006
• Gold and silver in west
Oil and Mineral Deposits
• Oil and natural gas = dominant industry in Gulf of Mexico and Arctic regions
• Nonrenewable resources
• Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 2010
• Canada has the world’s largest crude oil deposit
Forests
• Management, cultivation, and harvesting of trees and other vegetation
• Strong in the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf states, and the South Atlantic coast plains
• Overharvesting = major problem
• Reduces biodiversity (different kinds of animals, plants, organisms in an area)
• Reduces time for the timber industry to function
Freshwater
• Industries = trade, fishing, transportation
•Water used for irrigation for farming
Waterways
• Erie Canal – manmade waterway that connects Lake Erie with the Hudson River in New York
• Provides trade route
Erie Canal
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristicsPhysical Characteristics
Natural ResourcesFertile soil
FreshwaterOil & MineralsForests
Waterways
Erie Canal
Waterways
• Colorado River –erosion created Grand Canyon
• It’s being diverted for irrigation to fields in the southwest U.S.
Colorado River
Colorado River
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristicsPhysical Characteristics
Natural ResourcesFertile soil
FreshwaterOil & MineralsForests
Waterways
Erie CanalColorado River
Waterways
• Rio Grande River – part of the boundary between U.S. and Mexico
Rio Grande River
Climates in Canada
•Northern Canada = tundra
•Central Canada = subarctic
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristics
Physical Characteristics Natural
ResourcesFertile soilFreshwaterOil & MineralsForests
Waterways
Erie CanalColorado RiverRio Grande River
Climates
Canada-Tundra & Subarctic
Climates in the United States
•Northwest-Washington & Oregon = Marine West Coast
•Great Plains & Northeast = Humid Continental
• Southeastern = Humid Subtropical with mixed forests
•Hawaii = Tropical Wet
• Southwest = Desert & Steppe
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristics
Physical CharacteristicsNatural ResourcesFertile soil
FreshwaterOil & MineralsForestsWaterways
Erie CanalColorado RiverRio Grande RiverClimates
Canada-Tundra & SubarcticU.S.-Marine West Coast, HumidContinental, Humid Subtropical,Tropical Wet, Desert, & Steppe
Cultural CharacteristicsDiverse population
Colonized by Europeans
Multicultural societies
High literacy rate
Highly urbanized
Democratic forms of gov’t
Arts reflect heritage
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Unfortified border between U.S. & Canada
United States and Canada
Identifying geographic
characteristics
Physical CharacteristicsNatural ResourcesFertile soil
FreshwaterOil & MineralsForestsWaterways
Erie CanalColorado RiverRio Grande RiverClimates
Canada-Tundra & SubarcticU.S.-Marine West Coast, HumidContinental, Humid Subtropical,Tropical Wet, Desert, & Steppe
Cultural CharacteristicsDiverse population
Colonized by Europeans
Multicultural societies
High literacy rate
Highly urbanized
Democratic forms of gov’t
Arts reflect heritage
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)Unfortified border between U.S. & Canada
Economic Characteristics
-Major exporters of technology, info systems, & food
Highly developed infrastructure
Diversified economies
-Mineral, energy, & forest resources
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Multinational corporations-Center of world financial
markets = NY Stock Exchange-U.S. culture spreads through global marketplace
Widening gap between rich and poor
-sets rules of trade and eliminates almost all tariffs between U.S., Canada, & Mexico
New York Stock Exchange
Multinational corporations spread U.S. Culture
2013
North American Free Trade Agreement
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