GGS 101 Final Exam: US and Canada Geography

US and Canada

• Prairie Provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
• Maritime Provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
• First Peoples are Indigenous to Canada, while Native Americans are Indigenous to the US, reflecting regional distinctions.
• Main colonizers of Canada included France and Great Britain.
• Canada was founded in 1867.
• Canada became British through the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
• Quebec was granted the highest degree of autonomy.
• Acadian refers to the descendants of French colonists in the Maritime provinces.
• Approximately 50% of Canadians live in urban areas, mostly near the US border.
• Factors leading to suburb growth include affordable housing and urban sprawl.
• Five permanently inhabited territories of the US: Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa.
• Guano trade was pivotal for US expansion in the Pacific, providing fertilizer and military bases.

Southwest Asia

• Fertile Crescent encompasses the region from modern Turkey, through Syria and Iraq to Egypt, significant for early agriculture and civilization.
• Periphery regions are less economically developed; semi-periphery regions serve as a transition between core and periphery.
• Enclave: Landlocked territory surrounded by foreign territory. Exclave: Portion of territory geographically separated from the main part.
• Musandam, Madha, and Nahwa are territories of Oman.
• Aridity adaptations in architecture include thick walls and high ceilings; culturally, practices such as nomadism may emerge in dry areas.
• Ghadamès, Libya, is renowned for its unique underground architecture designed to combat extreme temperatures.

Economics & Society in Southwest Asia

• Desalinization is a key process for obtaining freshwater in arid regions.
• Oil dominates the economic sector in many Middle Eastern countries.
• Countries are diversifying by investing in technology and tourism.
• Kafala System is a sponsorship system regulating migrant workers in Gulf countries.
• Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy beyond oil dependency.
• The Houthis are located in Yemen, involved in regional conflicts affecting shipping in the Red Sea.
• Sunni and Shia are the two major branches of Islam, differing primarily in leadership perspectives after the Prophet Muhammad's death.
• The Five Pillars of Islam outline essential acts of worship fundamental to the faith.
• The Kaaba, located in Mecca, symbolizes the oneness of God and is a focal point of pilgrimage (Hajj).

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

• Palestinian areas occupied post-partition: West Bank and Gaza.
• Regions occupied by Israel in 1967 outside its borders include the Golan Heights and the West Bank.
• Hamas gained political power in Gaza in 2007.
• Zionism advocates for the Jewish national revival in the land of Israel.
• The Balfour Declaration supported establishing a Jewish home in Palestine while safeguarding non-Jewish rights.
• Nakba refers to the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the establishment of Israel.
• Israeli settlements on occupied territories are viewed as illegal under international law.

Africa

• Limnic eruption is a sudden release of gas from a lake, currently addressed by building gas extraction systems.
• Subregions of Africa include North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa.
• Thicket ecosystems are dense, while savannas are open grasslands; trees adapt through deep roots and drought-resistant features.
• Major deserts: Sahara (North Africa), Namib (Southern Africa), Kalahari (Southern Africa).
• Africa's high fertility rates are attributed to cultural traditions and socio-economic factors.
• Apartheid was a policy of systemic racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) typically aims for resource extraction, while land grabbing can involve agricultural development by foreign entities.
• Namibia is prorupt due to its unique territorial extension, called a proruption.
• Liberia was founded by freed American slaves.
• Somaliland sought independence from Somalia, whose colonial rulers included Britain and Italy.
• Native people of Western Sahara are the Sahrawis.
• The Abraham Accords are normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, with Morocco participating for economic benefits.

Asia

• Main subregions: East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia; differentiated by culture, language, and political systems.
• The Ring of Fire is an area of high seismic activity around the Pacific, with many tectonic plate boundaries.
• Himalayas formed by tectonic convergence.
• Monsoon refers to seasonal winds with significant rainfall; essential for Asian agriculture.
• Megacities have populations exceeding 10 million, while gateway cities serve as major entry points for trade.
• Pacific Rim is a global trading region, facilitating a significant amount of international commerce.
• Asian Tigers: Economically advanced regions of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, noted for rapid growth.

Latin America

• Lesser Antilles are smaller islands; Greater Antilles are larger land masses in the Caribbean.
• Rimland nations are coastal, while mainland countries are interior and may have different economic activities.
• Santería blends African and Christian beliefs, forming a syncretic religion.
• Bolivia and Paraguay are South American countries without Latin-derived languages.
• Maya, Aztec, and Incan empires were located in present-day Mexico and Peru; the Maya is the oldest.
• Atacama Desert nicknames include "Driest Place on Earth."
• Altiplano refers to high plateaus in the Andes, primarily in Bolivia, influencing agriculture through unique crop adaptations.
• Approximately 30 million people inhabit the Amazon; deforestation results from logging, agriculture, and mining, exacerbating forest fires due to dry conditions.
• OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) influences global oil prices.
• Venezuela’s oil crisis in the 2010s led to economic decline, shortages, and humanitarian issues.
• Essequibo, located in Guyana, is desired by Venezuela due to historic claims and resource disputes, changing hands among several colonial powers historically.

Miscellaneous Concepts

• Deserts are prevalent due to climatic factors like rainfall patterns and temperature.
• Remote sensing is used for environmental monitoring, land use change, and resource management.
• Water significantly affects climate through circulation and moisture in the atmosphere.
• Economic types: primary (extraction), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services).
• Different plate boundaries (divergent, convergent, transform) create diverse geographical features.
• Global population estimates suggest around 8 billion people reside in approximately 195 countries.
• Climate variation: interiors tend to be drier compared to edges due to prevailing winds and ocean proximity.
• Population pyramids depict demographic transitions through developmental stages.

Extra Credit

• High islands have mountainous terrain and fertile soil; low islands are flat, often relying on fishing and agriculture.### Historical Changes of Essequibo
• Essequibo has exchanged control among multiple nations, including Spain, Gran Colombia, Dutch, British, Guyana, and Venezuela.
• Spanish colonization began in the 16th century before Dutch control in the 17th century.
• The British gained possession of the area in the 18th century, officially establishing British Guiana.
• Post-independence, Essequibo became part of Guyana, while Venezuela has a longstanding territorial claim based on historical treaties.

Desert Locations and Characteristics

• Deserts primarily form in areas of high pressure where dry air descends.
• Rain shadows, created by mountain ranges, contribute to desert climates.

Uses of Remote Sensing

• Remote sensing techniques are employed for various applications like agriculture monitoring, disaster management, and urban planning.

Impact of Water on Climate

• Water bodies moderate temperatures, influencing regional climate patterns and precipitation.

Economic Types

• Economies are classified into primary (extraction of resources), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services), and quaternary (knowledge-based services).

Plate Boundaries and Their Features

• Divergent boundaries create rift valleys and ocean basins, while convergent boundaries result in mountain ranges.
• Transform boundaries typically lead to fault lines accentuated by seismic activity.

Global Demographics

• Approximately 195 countries exist worldwide.
• The global population is over 7.9 billion and is projected to keep growing.

Climate Variations

• Coastal regions typically experience milder climates, while continental interiors endure more extreme temperatures.

Population Pyramids

• Population pyramids illustrate the demographic transition model, depicting growth stages from high birth and death rates to declining and stabilizing rates.

High Islands vs. Low Islands

• High islands, volcanic in origin, typically have more fertile land and diverse ecosystems.
• Low islands, formed from coral reefs, often face challenges such as limited freshwater sources and less agricultural viability.

Hydraulic Societies

• Hydraulic societies are civilizations dependent on the management of water resources for agriculture and sustainability.

Karst Topography

• Formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, Karst topography features caves, sinkholes, and underground streams.

Outer China

• Outer China refers to the western part of the country, including regions like Xinjiang and Tibet.

Mitigation vs. Adaptation

• Mitigation involves reducing climate change impact, while adaptation focuses on adjusting to its effects.

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, governed under "one country, two systems" since the end of British rule in 1997.

Taiwan's Importance

• Taiwan is significant to the US economy for its advanced technology sector and production capabilities.

Nine-Dash Line

• The nine-dash line delineates China’s claims over the South China Sea, leading to territorial disputes.

Sovereignty in the South China Sea

• China engages in extensive construction of artificial islands and military installations to assert control.

Tibet and Religion

• Tibet, located in the southwest of China, predominantly follows Tibetan Buddhism, led by spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama.

Uyghur and Rohingya Traits

• The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group located in Xinjiang; their treatment has raised concerns of cultural genocide.
• The Rohingya, primarily residing in Myanmar, face systematic persecution and violence, driving refugee crises.

Definitions

• Animism: Belief that objects, places, and creatures possess spiritual essence.
• Maghreb Region: Refers to the western part of North Africa, translating to "the land where the sun sets."

Scramble for Africa

• A late 19th-century period marked by European nations competing for control over African territories, resulting in colonialism's lasting impacts.

Economic Adjustments in Africa

• Initiatives like ECOWAS aim to promote economic stability and cooperation among West African nations post-colonialism.

Asian Subregions

• Asia’s three main subregions are East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, differentiated by culture, politics, and economy.

Natural Features and Phenomena

• The Ring of Fire is an area in the Pacific basin known for its high volcanic and seismic activity.
• Monsoons are seasonal winds that significantly affect South Asian climate patterns.

Urban and Regional Definitions

• Megacities are urban areas with over 10 million inhabitants, while gateway cities serve as major entry points for global trade.

Latin America Comparisons

• The Lesser Antilles consist of smaller islands, while the Greater Antilles includes larger landmasses like Cuba and Hispaniola.

Environmental Concerns in the Amazon

• Deforestation in the Amazon is driven by agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructure development, exacerbating forest fires.

Venezuela's Oil Revenue Decline

• The decline in oil output during the 2010s led to economic crises, shortages, and increased poverty levels.

Essequibo Location and Dispute

• Essequibo is situated in Guyana, with Venezuela's claim based on historical disputes, highlighting ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Test your knowledge of US and Canada geography with this comprehensive study guide covering provinces, territories, colonization, and more. Prepare for your GGS 101 final exam with confidence!