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