Chapter 4:The United States and Canada:Physical Geography

Lesson 1: Physical Features pg.73Geography 7th Grade

Location• United States and

Canada are located in North America. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, to the West the Pacific Ocean.

• To the North, Canada borders the Arctic Ocean, while to the south United States borders Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico.

• The United States also includes Hawaii and Alaska.

Landforms of the U.S.A and Canada

• 1.Rocky Mountains– Extend about 3,000 miles

along the western section of the continent. It is the largest mountain system in North America.

• Along the spine of the Rockies runs the Continental Divide, the boundary that separates the flow of the rivers to the oceans.

Continental Divide

•On the east side of the Rockies, rivers flow to the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.

•On the west side of the Rockies, they flow to the Pacific Ocean.

Landforms of the U.S.A and Canada

• 2.Appalachian Mountains– They stretch about 1,600

miles known as the Laurentian Highlands in Canada. It is the second larges mountain system in North America.

Great Plains and Central Plains

• Between the Rockies and the Appalachians lies a huge plains area.– In Canada they are called the

Interior Plains. – In the United States they are

called the Great Plains and the Central Plains.

• Much of this region has rich soil. Farmers grow crops like soybeans, corn, wheat, and ranchers raise livestock.

Special Features of the U.S.A.

1.Sierra Nevada in California2.Death Valley– Hottest place in North

America3.The Cascades4.Glaciers in Alaska

Sierra Nevada

Death Valley

The Cascades

Glaciers in Alaska

Special Features of Canada

• 1.The Yukon• 2.Mount Logan (the highest peak in

Canada)• 3.The Canadian Shield• 4.St. Lawrence Lowlands

Major Bodies of Water• Both United States and Candas have important

lakes and rivers.– The Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Michigan,

Huron, Erie, and Ontario) make up the world’s largest freshwater lakes.

Major Bodies of Water• St. Lawrence River and Mississippi River

• Canada has two major rivers: Mackenzie River is the longest.

Homework

• For homework do Section 1 Assessment on page 76 # 1-5 for tomorrow.

• Also study map of Western Europe and Capitals.