Human Environment and
Interaction
 St Lawrence Seaway - North America’s most
important deep water ship route; joint project between
USA and Canada.
 A system of locks, canals, and channels that allow large
ship to travel from central North America, through the
Great Lakes, and out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Human Environment and
Interaction
The diagram below shows the sequence ships would travel
from west to east. Notice the depth of the lakes, and the
elevation change from Lake Erie to Montreal. Without the
locks boats would not have been able to travel over this
area because of waterfalls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLTfO6E1b40
Railroads
 Trains were instrumental in settling the western part of the United States of
America.
 To encourage development of rail lines westward, the
government offered railroad companies massive land
grants and bonds. Railroads received millions of acres of
public lands and sold that land to generate money for
the construction of the railroads. The federal
government gave 134 million acres of land as incentives
to the railroads.
Human Environment and
Interaction
 Hoover Dam
Human Environment and
Interaction
Human Environment and
Interaction
 Hoover Dam
 Why was it built



To help control flooding
To provide water for irrigation
To produce hydroelectric power
Population and Migration
Beringia-Land bridge that once connected Siberia and
Alaska
Population and Migration
• Columbian Exchange - The exchange of plants, animals, disease, and people
(slaves) between the old and new worlds.
Population and Migration
 Melting Pot (USA) vs Mosaic (Canada)
 Melting pot is much closer to assimilation
 Mosaic is much closer to multiculturalism
 Plano, TX –no “towns”
 Los Angeles- Chinatown, Korea town, Little Italy,
Population Geography of Canada
• About 90% of Canada’s
population lives within 100
miles of the US-Canadian border.
• One-third of Canada’s population
lives in Toronto, Montreal, and
Vancouver.
Population Geography of USA
East Coast-first settled, then West Coast, Middle
America.
Culture/Government
 Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a
federal state with a democratic parliament.
 USA-Constitution-based federal republic; strong
democratic tradition
Culture-People
 Metis- People of French and Native heritage.
 Immigrant-someone who comes to a new country.
(Push or Pull) Railways (Pull)
 Refugee- someone forced to flee their country due to
war, persecution or violence. (Push)
Culture Religion
• Canada-
Catholics 44%
Protestants 30%
• USA-
Protestants – 60%
Catholics – 26%
Culture Language
 Canada - 2 official languages
 French and English
USA - O official languages. The federal
government has never mandated an official
language
English spoken by 80% of America
Spanish spoken by 30% of America
Regions
Maritime or Atlantic Provinces #5
 Easternmost provinces
 Cod fishing
 The Grand Banks
Regions
Core #4
 Home to ⅔ of the population
 Settled along Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
River
 Divided between British and French origins
Regions
Western Provinces #2
 Borders Pacific Ocean
 Centered on Vancouver
 Home to the second largest Chinatown in North
America
Regions
 Northern Frontier #1
 Nickel, copper, and uranium mines
 Home to forestry, pulp manufacture, and
hydroelectricity industries
Regions
Pacific West
 Population boom during 1840s Gold Rush
 Home to mining, ranching, high tech, and
entertainment industries
 Rapidly increasing urban population due to
high birth rate and immigration
Regions
Northeast
 Longest history of European settlement,
 Gateway to immigrants
 Urban areas are major economic centers
 Diverse population, usually votes Democrat
Regions
Midwest
 Once the “Western Frontier”
 Breadbasket of the US
 Manufacturing blue-collar hub
 Declining urban population
Regions
South
 Formerly based on slavery and cash crops
 Moving from primary to secondary and tertiary
sectors
 Large African-American population
 Strongly Christian, usually votes Republican
Regions
Great Plains
 Staging point of war between Native
Americans and American settlers
 Cities founded as railroad hubs for cattle
 Home to farming and cattle industries
 Many small towns with fewer cities
Regions
Alaska and Hawaii
 Acquired by the US in late 19th century
 Home to tourism, fishing, oil, mining, and
forestry industries
 Large Native American and Asian populations