Chap 06-North America Part 1

Islands

• Greenland is the largest island in the Arctic Ocean, with others including Baffin Island, Victoria Island, and Ellesmere Island in Canada.
• Newfoundland is located off the east coast of Canada.
• The West Indies consists of a chain of small islands in the Caribbean.

North America

• North America is the third largest continent, following Asia and Africa.
• It houses the second (Canada) and fourth (United States) largest countries globally.
• The region was referred to as the "New World" after its 15th-century discovery.
• Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492, mistakenly believing he reached India.

Christopher Columbus's Voyage

• Columbus sought a sea route to India, believing in a round Earth.
• He mistakenly termed the islands "Indies" and referred to natives as "Indians."
• Columbus undertook four more voyages, discovering parts of South America in 1498 without realizing he had found a new continent.
• America was named after explorer Amerigo Vespucci in 1507, after Waldseemuller mistakenly honored him.
• Vikings established settlements in Greenland around 1000 A.D. before Columbus's voyages.

The Central Plains

• The Central Plains are located between the Western Cordilleras and Eastern Highlands, stretching from the Arctic coast to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Known as the Great Plains, the northern area is termed the Canadian Shield, consisting of ancient rocks shaped by ice age glaciers.
• Glacial activity created thousands of lakes in the region, forming the Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
• Major rivers draining the Canadian Shield include the Mackenzie River and the Yukon River.
• The Mississippi River, third longest at 3,778 km, forms a delta before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

Ice Age and Glaciers

• An ice age is a prolonged period of significantly colder climates with ice sheets covering substantial Earth regions.
• Glaciers, massive moving ice masses, are sometimes referred to as "rivers of ice."

Location and Boundaries of North America

• North America encompasses Canada, USA, Mexico, and seven Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
• Greenland is a self-governing division of Denmark, lying north of Canada.
• Central America links Mexico with South America.
• Various Caribbean islands, including Cuba and Jamaica, are part of North America.

North America Location

• Latitude spans from 7°N to 84°N; the Tropic of Cancer crosses through Mexico.
• Longitude extends between 53°W and 180°W, placing North America entirely in the Western Hemisphere.
• Bordered by the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans; connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama.

Time Zones

• A time zone standardizes legal, commercial, and social time across regions.
• The USA experiences multiple time zones, with a three-hour difference noted across coasts.

Physical Divisions of North America

• North America has three physical divisions: Western Cordilleras, Central Plains, and Eastern Highlands.
• The Canadian Shield is a significant part of the Central Plains.

The Western Cordilleras

• The Western Cordilleras are young fold mountains, stretching 6,500 km from Alaska to Panama.
• The Rocky Mountains serve as the easternmost range, with Mt. McKinley being the continent's highest peak at 6,200 m.
• Several ranges compose this region, including the Alaska Range, Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada.

Intermontane Plateaus

• Intermontane plateaus such as the Columbia and Colorado plateaus are positioned between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast.
• The Colorado River carved the famous Grand Canyon.

The Eastern Highlands or Appalachians

• The Appalachian mountain chain stretches 2,575 km from the St. Lawrence River valley through the eastern United States.
• Generally below 2,000 meters in height, these ancient fold mountains feature a series of streams and rivers generating hydroelectricity.

Important Features of North America

• Western Cordilleras: Young fold mountains with various ranges and active geology.
• Rocky Mountains: The easternmost range of the Cordilleras.
• Mt. McKinley: North America's highest peak.
• Grand Canyon: Formed by the Colorado River, showcasing impressive geological features.

Explore the unique islands of the Arctic Ocean and the West Indies through this quiz. Discover the largest islands like Greenland, as well as other significant landmasses such as Baffin Island and Newfoundland. Test your knowledge on the geography and characteristics of these island regions.