North American Physical Geography
Highlands , Plains and Plateaus
• Highlands
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North American Elevation rises to the west
Appalachian Mts. and Laurentain Highlands
Rocky Mts. –Mexico to Alaska
Coast Mts. – British Columbia to California
• Plains
– Low flatland
– Appear by coasts
– Great plains- center of North America
• Plateaus
– Flat land, high elevation, may be between mountains
– Western United States and Mexico(mesas)
Rivers and Lakes
• Rivers
– Major cities developed along rivers
– St. Lawrence – major waterway from Great Lakes to
Atlantic Ocean
– Rio Grande- natural border between Mexico and
United States
• Lakes
– Great Lakes- largest body of fresh water in the world
– Form the boundary between U.S. and Canada
Great Plains Key Ideas
• Major agricultural area- grains, corn,
soybeans, and much more
• Feeds U.S. and Canada- “breadbasket” and
exports surpluses
• Rich supply of Energy- oil and natural gas
The Great Plains
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Stretches from Missouri River to the Rocky Mts.
Rich soil
Climate – temperate
Abundant rainfall, irrigate dry areas
Transport goods on rivers- Mississippi, Missouri
Railroads move goods in U.S. and Canada
Major agricultural region- many different crops
Major oil and natural gas deposits
Western Mountains and Deserts
• Landforms and Climate
– Cordillera- Rocky Mts. and Sierra Nevada Mts.
– Between the mountains is the Great Basin
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Dry, little rainfall
Sparse plant life
Sandy soil
Desert climate
– Grand Canyon
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Dry
Some desert
Deep steep gorges
Soft rock
Resources and Conservation
• Resources
– Mountains provide many mineral resources
– Natural gas , especially in southwestern Canada
– Electricity- dams
• Conservation– Water in short supply
- huge population growth
- drought
Hoover dam supplies- electricity, drinking water and
irrigation for Arizona, Southern California and Nevada
Mexico’s Mountains and Plateaus
• Landforms and Climate
– Peninsulas
• Baja- western Mexico near California
• Yucatan- southeastern Mexico
– Mountains
• Sierra Madres
– Occidental in the west
– Oriental in the east
– Del Sur in the south
– Plateau- Mexican Plateau lies between the mountains
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Southern part- Mesa Central
Mexico City
20% of population lives here’
Rich volcanic soil- Pico de Orizaba
Northern- Mesa del Norte