Formation of Continents and North America History

Formation of Continents

• Continents were once a single supercontinent named Pangaea, surrounded by the ocean Panthalassa.
• Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory in 1912, explaining the movement of continents.
• Pangaea split into two major blocks: Laurasia (North America, Europe, Asia) and Gondwana (South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, India).
• The Tethys Sea formed between Laurasia and Gondwana as they drifted apart.
• About 65 million years ago, North America separated from Laurasia; South America, Africa, India, Madagascar, Australia, and Antarctica separated from Gondwana.
• The Atlantic Ocean formed from the westward drift of North and South America; the Indian Ocean formed from India's northward drift.
• The Plate Tectonics Theory advanced the understanding of continental movement based on shifts in tectonic plates, moving slowly on the Earth's molten mantle.

History of North America

• Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering North America, but Vikings likely arrived first.
• Native American tribes and the Aztec civilization inhabited North America before European colonization.
• The United States, the most populous country in North America, emerged in the late 1700s and is considered a "melting pot" of cultures.
• Paleo-Indians are believed to be among the first inhabitants, migrating from Asia.

Location and Boundaries

• North America is situated in the Northern and Western Hemispheres, bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans.
• Major features include the Arctic Ocean to the north, the North Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast.
• It connects to South America via the Isthmus of Panama, where the Panama Canal was constructed.

Countries and Capitals

• Major countries: Canada, USA, Mexico; smaller countries cluster in the central region.
• Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, with Nuuk as its capital.
• English, Spanish, and French are the primary languages due to historical colonization.

Major Physical Features

• Four main physical divisions: Western Cordilleras, Great Plains, Eastern Plateaus, Central Lowlands.
• Western Cordilleras: Features young fold mountains like the Rocky Mountains; important plateaus include the Columbia and Colorado Plateaus; includes the Grand Canyon.
• Great Plains: Vast semi-arid grasslands drained by major rivers.
• Eastern Plateaus: Extend from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, include the Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont Plateau, and Atlantic Coastal Plain.
• Central Lowlands: Fertile plains suitable for agriculture and livestock.

Mountain Ranges

• Rocky Mountains: Longest mountain range in North America, with peak Mt. Elbert at 4,399 meters; diverse wildlife.
• Appalachian Mountains: Oldest mountain chain, running from Newfoundland to Alabama; includes popular subranges like the Great Smoky Mountains.
• Sierra Madre: Mountain range along Mexico’s Pacific Coast, characterized by rainforests and volcanoes; highest point is Mount Whitney.
• Adirondack Mountains: Located in New York, highest point is Mount Marcy; features the largest state park in the U.S.
• Brooks Range: Extends 1,100 km across Alaska, with Mount Chamberlin being the highest at 2,749 meters.
• Cascade Range: Known for volcanoes, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, highest point is Mount Rainier.

Water Bodies

• North America is bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans and contains significant seas, gulfs, and bays.
• Major Rivers:
  • Missouri River: Longest river (3,767 km), flows into the Mississippi.
  • Mississippi River: Second longest (3,734 km), forms one of the largest drainage basins in the world.
  • Colorado River: Notable for the Grand Canyon and significant dams; vital for water supply.
  • St. Lawrence River: Major eastern Canadian waterway draining the Great Lakes.
  • Hudson River: Historically significant, flows through New York.
  • Mackenzie River: Longest river in Canada, flows into the Arctic Ocean.

Lakes

• Great Lakes: Comprising Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario; hold 21% of the world's fresh water supply, providing vital transportation routes.

Deserts

• North America features four deserts: Great Basin, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave, primarily located in the western region.
• Great Basin Desert: Largest, cold desert mostly in Nevada.
• Chihuahuan Desert: Located along the US-Mexico border.
• Sonoran Desert: Found in California, Arizona, and Mexico, with major rivers flowing through.
• Mojave Desert: Positioned between the Great Basin and Sonoran deserts, spans California, Nevada, and Arizona.