The document summarizes the major physical regions of North America, including the Appalachian Region, Coastal Plains, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, Interior Plains, Canadian Shield, Intermountain Region, Western Cordillera, and Arctic Plains. It describes the key geographic features, climates, vegetation, economic activities, and environmental issues of each region. The regions vary greatly in their terrain, from flat coastal areas to mountainous regions, and climate, from temperate to arctic. The document provides an overview of the major physical characteristics and human impacts within the diverse geographic areas of North America.

1. Physical Regions Of North
America
By Keanna Natt

3. The Appalachian Region
Stretches 2400 km from Newfoundland to Georgia
Rolling hills due to erosion
Fold mountains
Fertile plateaus and river valleys
Climate affected by meeting of oceans
Cold water brought by Labrador Current can cause freezing in
north
Waters ideal habitat for aquatic micro organisms
Once very forested with coniferous and deciduous trees
Much soil poor and unproductive
Economy no longer dependant on mining, foresting, and agriculture
Many manufacturing and service industries more diversified
Mining, logging, and trade (sea ports)
Coal mining and mountaintop removal main environmental concern
Violations of Clean Water Act by many mining companies

4. The Coastal Plains
Lowland area
Stretches from Cape Cod to Mexico over 3200 km
Flat, gently rolling hills
Many swamps and marshes (important for aquatic life)
Mississippi delta important belt of agricultural land
North is cold in winter and hot in summer
South has a more subtropical climate
Hurricanes in south
First vegetation was pine forests
Lush jungles in areas (Mexico)
Agricultural, paper making, and manufacturing
Streams entering from Appalachians important to industry
Industrial companies destroying natural habitats
Dams interrupting natural flow of estuaries

5. The Great Lakes- St.
Lawrence Lowlands
Smallest region in Canada
Densely populated
Has escarpments (Niagara Falls)
Rolling landscape from glacier movement
Flat plains,hills, deep river valleys
Plains by St Lawrence River rise into Appalachian and Shield regions
Climate is humid and continental (develops away from oceans)
Winters cool/cold and summers are warm/hot
Great Lakes warm winters and cool summers
Fertile soils
Had once the largest Broad leafed forest
Deciduous and Coniferous trees (maple, oak, birch)
Agriculture from long growing season
Commerce and manufacturing due to dense population
Contaminants from smokestacks in air/rivers
Pollutants in water effecting species and habitats

6. The Interior Plains
Large, vast sweep of plains
In US divided into Central Lowlands/Great Plains
Very diverse (stretches from Gulf of Mexico to Arctic)
Generally flat, some rolling hills
Long warm summers, cold winters, not much precipitation
Climate colder as you move North
Northern parts have arctic climate
Weather can be severe (tornadoes)
Great Plains have prairie grasses
Central Lowlands have deciduous and evergreen trees
Grassland and boreal forest
Tundra near Arctic
Farming (livestock and food)
Mining (zinc, oil, natural gas)
Farm pollutants and water shortages due to dry climate and water needed by
farm/oil industries

7. The Canadian Shield
Over 2 billion years old
Half of Canada
Has eroded mountain volcanoes
Ice age left barren rock
Glaciers moved ground creating muskeg
Climate varies, more temperate in South
Further North has cold and long winters
Boreal forest
Trees generally weak and small
Mining (copper, golf, zinc, iron)
Foresting (pulp and paper industry)
Acid rain from power plants
Overuse and over extraction of natural resource

8. Intermountain Region
Sparsely populated
Between Rockies and Cascades
Interior plateau valleys of BC and Yukon
High plateaus, mountains, and deserts
Many streams and rivers don't reach oceans
Brackish (salty lakes)
Rain shadow due to western mountains
Winters cold/wet or hot/dry based on region
South is warm with little precipitation
North has a milder climate
Grasslands,
Plants that can withstand desert climate
Thin pine forests in high elevations
Cattle ranching
Crop cultivation
Water problems due to global warming
Change in snow, melting ice patterns
Species endangerment because of climate changes

9. The Western
Cordillera
Mountainous
Consists of new un eroded mountains
Rock mountains continental divide
Mountains separated by river valleys and plateaus
Maritime climate (influenced by oceans)
Parts among wettest places on earth
Winters mild, summers cool
Vegetation varies
Evergreens grow old and tall
Grasses grow on mountain slopes
Vegetation on mountaintops similar to that of tundra
Mining (zinc, copper, gold, coal)
Lumber and fishing (Pacific Ocean)
Over foresting erodes slopes faster and destroys habitats
Reservoirs disrupt fish travelling
Habitats destroyed for livestock grazing

10. The Arctic Plains
Lowlands and mountains
Islands north of Hudson's Bay
Mountains in far north (covered by glaciers)
Mostly flat
Severe climate due to distance from equator
Long, cold 10 month winters
Summers generally short and cool
Desert due to lack of precipitation
Few life forms due to climate
Lichen
Trees can't withstand climate
Small shrubs, mosses on tundra
Mining of coal and gas, fishing,
Global warming causing melting ice (leading to species destruction)
Organisms moving further north
Permafrost less reliable due to increasing temperature
Shiny ice and snow melting not reflecting sun rays, increasing temperature
Environmental changes effecting the rest of the world as well

11. Bibliography
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