Human-Environment Interaction

United StatesAnd Canada

Before PeopleOnly natural forces

changed the landWeathering, erosion,

flooding, fires

Early Settlement1st people were

nomads; wandered from place to place in search of food and shelter

Crossed from Asia to present day Alaska

Beringia- land bridge that connect Asia and North America

NomadsHunted wild game,

fished, gathered edible plants

Temporary settlements need coastlines, rivers and streams

Had to adjust to climate

Had to adapt to mountains, forests, plains and deserts

Development of AgricultureRaising plants and

animals that are useful to people

About 3000 years ago

Replaced hunting and gathering

Permanent settlements

People started to change the land to meet their needs

Cut trees for lumber to build shelter and burn as fuel

Plowed soil to plant crops

Dug ditches for irrigation to water crops

1st crops- corn, beans, squash

Building CitiesBuilding cities depends a lot on physical

settingNear waterLandscapeClimateWeatherAvailability of natural resources

Overcoming DistancesAfter crossing Beringia, people moved on

overland trails south along Pacific Coast to warmer climates

Some stayed in present day Alaska and northern Canada

Early European settlers settled along the Atlantic Coast

Later settlers moved westward using trails such as the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail

Settlers used inland waterways such as the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

Manmade WaterwaysErie Canal

Built across New York stateConnected Lake Erie to Hudson RiverHudson River flows into Atlantic Ocean1st water link of Atlantic

Ocean and Great Lakes

Erie Canal

St. Lawrence SeawayMost important deep-water ship route in North

AmericaBuilt in 1950sConnects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic OceanUses a series of locks- water-filled elevators

used to raise and lower shipsEnables oceangoing ships to sail to middle of

North Americahttp://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigation/defa

ult.asp?pageid=166

St. Lawrence Seaway

St. Lawrence Seaway

Transcontinental RailroadRailroad crossing the entire North American

continentUnited States transcontinental railroad finished

in 1869Canada’s transcontinental railroad finished in

1885Used for

Carrying passengersTransporting goodsPromoting economic developmentNational unity

U.S. Transcontinental Railroad

U.S. Transcontinental Railroad

Trans-Canada Railroad

National Highway SystemsDevelopment of cars lead to road buildingU.S. has 4 million miles of roadsCanada has 560,000 miles of roadsInterstate highways in U.S.

started in 1950s46,000 milesAcross U.S. from north to south and from east

to west

National Highway SystemsTrans-Canada Highway

4860 milesConnects major cities in southern CanadaNewfoundland to British Columbia